Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa Forward Party (GFA) President Vijai Sardesai has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, accusing him of siding with builders over the people of Goa in the ongoing controversy surrounding Bhutani’s project at Sancoale.
“Yesterday’s (Sunday) incident where the Chief Minister refused to meet activists opposing Bhutani’s Sancoale project whilst attending a function sponsored by this company makes Goemkars wonder whether our CM has become the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hill Cutting Builders Association,” said Sardesai on Monday.
The Fatorda MLA reminded Sawant of his recent assembly assurance to review the Sancoale project and emphasized that it is the people of Goa, not "unscrupulous builders," who elect leaders to office.
He also pointed to new revelations of irregularities connected to the Bhutani project and criticized the government's refusal to act. Sardesai accused the entire cabinet of functioning as brokers for builders, further claiming that the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has become a "One Window Clearance" system for the land mafia.
“The people of Goa will not remain silent,” Sardesai warned, adding that they are ready to take to the streets to fight against the destruction of Goa’s hills. He also referred to how there is growing public frustration amongst the socio-economic and environmental conscious citizens of South Goa over what he described as the government's disregard for the environment and lack of accountability regarding the project approvals.
The GFP Chief also touched upon what former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Sunday about the need for the State to study the carrying capacity of villages before allowing such projects and emphasized that the consent of the villagers cannot be bypassed.