Team Herald
PANJIM: Even as former sarpanch Premanand Naik's indefinite fast against the Bhutani Infra project entered its fifth day and local opposition to the project grew stronger, the Sancoale Village Panchayat sought to buy time, saying that they have sought the opinion of two lawyers and had written to the Advocate General of Goa on revoking the construction licence issued to M/s Parmesh Construction Company Limited or Bhutani Infra.
Facing the ire of the very people they are supposed to represent, not a word has emerged yet from the panchayat on how soon they will clarify their stand on revoking the licence.
Sancoale deputy sarpanch Derick Vales said that they have sought legal advice from advocates Amey Prabhudessai and Zeller D’Souza, who is also the lawyer engaged by the village panchayat. He added that the panchayat had also written to Advocate General Devidas Pangam for his opinion in the matter. Vales said that Bhutani Infra's reply to the show cause notice served on it was discussed at the panchayat meeting attended by the seven members on October 18. But ruling panchayat members had claimed that the reply was too lengthy and full of legal jargon, making it difficult to decipher.
The meeting had also seen heated arguments between ruling and opposition panchayat members, as villagers and activists demanded that the panchayat should immediately revoke the construction licence that was issued on March 11, 2024.
Two panchayat members, Tulshidas Naik and Maurelio Carvalho, had alleged that the panchayat had taken the decision without a quorum.
Premanand Naik’s health worsens as his fast against Bhutani enters fifth day
Team Herald
SANCOALE: The health of former Sancoale Sarpanch, Premanand Naik, has started deteriorating as his hunger strike against Bhutani Infra entered the fifth day on Friday. Naik has been on an indefinite fast, demanding that the licence to the construction project be scrapped by the Sancoale panchayat.
“Premanand is a senior citizen and his health condition is worrying, even as doctors from the health department are regularly checking his health parameters,” said Sancoale Panchayat member, Tulshidas Naik. He held that the ruling panchayat members were responsible for forcing the 63-year-old former Sarpanch to take such an extreme step.
Meanwhile, a large number of people from across the State met Premanand Naik on Friday and requested him to withdraw his ongoing stir.
Villagers of Velim, along with their MLA Cruz Silva, met Premanand and expressed their solidarity with the senior citizen.
Silva and other activists addressed a meeting opposite St John of the Cross Convent, at Savorfond, Sancoale, demanding that the government should scrap the Bhutani project. They also demanded that the government should formulate a new Regional Plan for Goa.