NO MEANS NO: Goans rally IN Sancoale. Rally FOR Premanand, rally AGAINST Bhutani project

People from all over Goa gather at Sancoale to stop Bhutani project; urge people to remain alert on a permanent basis to save Goa
NO MEANS NO: Goans rally IN Sancoale. Rally FOR Premanand, rally AGAINST Bhutani project
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Team Herald

PANJIM: Expressing their solidarity and rallying behind former Sancoale sarpanch Premanand Naik, who is on an indefinite hunger strike for the last seven days, against the Bhutani Infra Project, the activists held a peaceful protest near the village panchayat on Sunday, demanding that the construction licence issued to the company be revoked immediately.

Addressing the gathering, social activist Anthony D’Silva said, “No means No. We do not want the project. We do not want further explanation on this. Whether it is Premanand Naik or Anthony D’Silva, we will continue the fight because this is going to be the beginning and the end. If we, Goans cannot stop this one Bhutani project then we will never be able to protect Goa anymore.”

Social activist Aruna Wagh said, “It is our birth right to protect our land. I would just like to say that we have to remain united and fight for our rights.”

Tulshidas Naik, Opposition panch member of Sancoale Panchayat said, “I am the BJP district president and my party says nation first. So for me the nation is still first, but under the same nation, the Bhutani project is coming up, so I do not want this project.”

Activist Fidoll Pereira said, “It has been seven days. People are against illegalities that are happening in this village. The motive of these non-Goans is to drive us Goans out of our State and (BJP) is hand-in-the-glove with them. If something happens, we approach the panchayat, which itself is indulging in corruption. So whom do we go to?”

Former Loliem sarpanch Mohandas Lolienkar said, “The Regional Plan was scrapped when Goa Bachao Abhiyan protested. Goans will have to think when they will have to come on road for each protest. They will have to think how many outsiders can be accommodated in the State. If this continues then there will be panchas of non-Goan origin.

Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas said, “Since the beginning I have been protesting against the Bhutani project and extending support to those who have been protesting against it.”

Olencio Simoes, crusader leader of the GRE said, “If the departments are not taking action then the MLA should expose them. It is not about just one project. There is no proper water supply in the village. There is no STP. Sewage is released in the field. There is the issue of garbage while electricity supply is irregular. In such a situation who will provide infrastructure to large projects.”

‘Obtained development permission, construction

Licence’, says Bhutani in reply to show cause notice

PANJIM: In its five-page reply to the show cause notice issued by the Sancoale Village Panchayat, Parmesh Construction Company Limited or Bhutani Infra has so far obtained development permission and construction licence and is in the process of getting other required permissions.

The company has stated that it had applied for permissions for cutting of land under Section 17 A of Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act and to the PWD for water connection on January 5 and April 12 respectively

Also data collection is under preparation to seek Environment Clearance (EC), the company stated.

The Bhutani Infra was granted development permission by the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) on February 2, 2024, while Sancoale Village Panchayat issued a construction licence on March 11 this year.

Similarly, Goa Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) has granted registration under the Real Estate Development and Regulatory Authority, on March 22, this year.

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