Team Herald
MARGAO: Stating that he is determined to work diligently to expose the MLAs and Ministers involved in the contentious Bhutani issue in Sancoale, by ensuring that they are held accountable, South Goa Member of Parliament Capt Viriato Fernandes on Sunday said that he would ‘try hard to put them behind bars’.
Capt Viriato accused the government of not aligning with the needs and concerns of the local population and emphasised that the lack of responsiveness is undermining community interests and wellbeing.
Speaking to mediapersons at Raia, he stressed upon the need for justice and transparency, claiming that those in power must answer for their actions.
The MP called for a united effort to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and that responsible parties face the consequences of their decisions.
“Bhutani and the BJP is a poisonous cocktail out to destroy Goa. This government is not with the people,” he stated emphatically.
Capt Viriato said that the Congress party quickly responded to the community’s appeal to support in opposing the Bhutani project in Sancoale.
“Yes, our team members played a role in collecting certain documents and handing them over to the people to fight the case against the project,” the MP said.
He called for protecting Goa’s land before it faces irreversible destruction.
“It is the responsibility of all parents to fight for this cause to ensure a safe future for their children and generations to come.”
The MP reminded the community that their parents fought to protect the land, and now it is their duty to continue that legacy.
He stated that they will work diligently to expose those involved in the matter and ensure they are held accountable, even if it means putting them behind bars.
Govt has been exposed on DLF,
Bhutani projects, says Congress
PANJIM: The Congress on Sunday alleged that the State government led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has been exposed on DLF and Bhutani projects.
Addressing a press conference, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Vice President Sunil Kawthankar said, “The government has been exposed on the Bhutani project. It only manifests how the government has accorded permissions for change of zones and allowed a project which is dangerous for the Goans to come up. Goans have now realised that the project may have a long term effect.”
“In North Goa district, there are two projects, DLF and Spark Healthline Private Limited. It has completely destroyed the Reis Magos hills. We lodged a complaint against it, but no action was taken,” he said.
Kawathankar said the act of BJP will have impact on the next generation irrespective of caste or creed. “All Goans and their future generations will suffer due to it,” he said.
GPCC vice president Tulio De Souza alleged that the government is trying to accord permission to the Spark Healthline Private Limited silently.
He alleged that the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) is a scam as it is only approving the projects of crony capitalists.
“It is being said that around 200 people will get jobs. Question is how many Goans will get a job? The government should issue a white paper on it. If it is not done then people will be forced to take to the streets,” he said.
De Souza said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should issue a notification that he will go through all the projects approved by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department.
Pomburpa locals want action
against illegal constructions in ESAs
PANJIM: Raising slogans against the mega housing projects proposed atop the Pomburpa hill, the villagers on Sunday demanded immediate action against illegal constructions in Eco-Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and to revert back the zone change, fearing environmental damage. Speaking to mediapersons, the villagers alleged that the government has allowed zone change in Survey No. 292-1-I, by using Section 17 (2) and 32 A of TCP Act. “Due to these projects, our natural environment, water and biodiversity are threatened. In August, we were informed that the Pomburpa-Olaulim Village Panchayat in June 2023 granted construction licence to one Tarun Radhakrishna Tahilani, who has escalated the pace of construction which is alarming as the destructive development would affect the village adversely, causing irreversible damage to the natural green cover and result in depletion of natural resources including adverse effect on groundwater table thereby putting the villagers in peril,” they said.
The villagers further alleged that development has been undertaken outside the settlement area of the Regional Plan.
They said that as per the RP, the area falls in NDZ and natural cover and is classified as Eco-I and Eco-II and demanded immediate freezing of hills and ESAs .
Leny D’Cruz, a villager, said, “We are blessed with mountains, greenery and water bodies. This is nowhere else. So my request is don’t play with the people of Pomburpa. We are not going to allow you to rape Pomburpa. This is our village and we will fight till our last breath."
Alvito D’Silva, chairman of Biodiversity Management Committee of the village, said, “We made so much efforts to protect our village, but land conversions continue indiscriminately. We have been asking the government not to allow them as our village falls in an eco-sensitive zone."
Later, the villagers submitted a representation to Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira who assured them that he would address their grievances and fight to protect the villager from destruction.