The gathering demanded the revocation of the permission given to Leading Hotels to set up a golf course and resort at Tiracol.
Interestingly, except for two villagers – Cyrilo D’Souza and Ryan D’Souza – none of the other residents of Tiracol were present, raising doubts about unity among the villagers.
Fr Jevino Pereira assistant parish priest of Tircaol however said that the villagers were not properly informed about the protest and that they continue to remain united.
Fr Pereira said that Tiracol has been suffering for decades as there is no proper water supply, electricity, primary education and health facilities are bad, and roads pitiable. “Being a MLA of this constituency our Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has not visited this village even once after becoming CM but his government has supported the destruction of this village,” Fr Pereira said.
He said that no development can take place in a CRZ area and that there is archaeological monument at Tiracol, yet the government permitted Leading Hotels to construct villas and a golf course on the island.
Father Eremito Rebello of the Goans For Dabolim Only (GFDO) alleged that the present government is of corporate houses and not of the common people.
Cyrilo said Tiracol depends on three open wells for water but Leading Hotel’s project has been given permission for more than 17 bore wells in the vicinity. “We will be helpless in the coming days if the project comes to our village. People will literally slog for water,” he said.
He said that Leading Hotels is constructing 282 villas in Tiracol and the sewage of these villas will flow into the fields.
AAP Goa unit convenor Valmiki Naik alleged that the permission to the Leading Hotels was a backroom promise made to them before the elections.
Advocate Jatin Naik said Goa is leading in chaos, anarchy and destruction. “These land deals were done during the last Congress regime in Goa by Vishwajeet Rane and BJP was then opposing it and now the same BJP is reluctant to act against it,” Naik said.
Samir Kelekar, activist and IITian said Leading Hotels is an American company and they are contacting them as they might not be aware of the situation in Tiracol and the repercussions of the issue.
Also present were Floriano Lobo of Goa Suraj Party, Swati Kerkar of AAP, Ajitsingh Rane of Shiv Sena and Thalmann Pereira of CPI(M).
