On the eve of the 60th Republic Day of India, to mark the adoption of the Constitution of India and the transition of India from a British Dominion to a Republic on January 26, 1950, all villages in Goa need to be on a heightened alert against the enemy within Goa that is seeking to destroy Goa. Yes our Goan villages are under attack by a very dangerous enemy that is seeking to destroy us and that enemy is from within.
Yes - A full-fledged attempt to destroy our Goan villages in the guise of so-called "Development" by hoisting mega-projects, condominiums, high-rise buildings with swimming pools, hotels etc. when we do not have even basic amenities like drinking water or electricity and proper education facilities for our children to study in our Goan villages. What is shocking are the reports in the newspapers that even the Goa Medical College doesn't have water for our sick and dying! Our fields are being destroyed, rivers are being poisoned by the waste that is being released by hotels and housing projects with no proper garbage treatment and sewage facilities are being heaped on us and our scare resource our Goan land is being acquired for all sorts of mammoth projects that are anti-people and anti-environmental are being approved in violation of all the rules in the book and in total disregard of the harmful effects to our Environment. While our Goan villages through various Gram Panchayat meetings have opted for Village Panchayat -3 status, it has become evident that many Panchayats have mis-represented the wishes of the people and have even submitted wrong plans which is a crime punishable under the law for which they could be prosecuted and put behind bars. The Indian Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar has been described as 'first and foremost a social document.' ... 'The majority of India's constitutional provisions are either directly arrived at furthering the aim of social revolution or attempt to foster this revolution by establishing conditions necessary for its achievement.' These mega-projects that we see being hoisted on our Goan villages are anti-people and are a violation of the fundamental rights and aspirations of the Goan Villagers. As Mr. Mesquita cautions the brave villagers of Cansaulim who came up with a thought-provoking and path-blazing resolution at their Gram Sabha meeting yesterday in saying no to mega-projects, builders and anti-people policies, while simultaneously revoking the NOC given for a project for the construction of 46-odd flats with a swimming pool and club house. Attached below is the Navhind Times report in today's newspaper titled "Cansaulim villagers say no to mega-projects". If you see from the other newspaper reports similar Gram Sabha meetings in Assagao, Rachol, Verna have all expressed the anguish, deep sorrow and disgust that our Goan villagers have towards these loathsome and destructive mega-projects under the guise of "development" that our politicians and corrupt Panchayat members seek to hoist on our Goan people. Assagao has even the Chief Minister of Haryana constructing his bungalow in Mazalwaddo at the foot of the hills in total violation of the rules! Here he too needs a swimming pool when we Goans do not get drinking water! Simultaneously Rahejas, DLF and a host of other mega-projects are all out to destroy Goa and we all know who has been granting them the illegal permissions. Clearly as Mr. Mesquita points out our own Anti-Goan MLA's, working in tandem with some corrupt Panchayat Members on behalf of these Builders and their agents, will try to thwart the aspirations and wishes of our Goan brothers and sisters as we all can see what is happening in all our Goan villages today. Even our so-called Environment Minister seems to have no idea of what his roles and responsibilities are - or is he just busy indulging in his favourite past-time at the Casinos? Does he have no responsibility for protecting the Goan Environment? As we celebrate the 60th Republic Day tomorrow we will see all these politicians, corrupt Panchayat members making all these fake and humbug speeches, vowing to protect the interests of the people - but that's all a whole lot of hogwash and baloney. They are all out to make Goa the playground of the rich and the famous by destroying our Goan villages in the guise of "development" which is anti-people and not what our fore-fathers had envisaged for our great Nation. A concerted effort needs to be made by all our villages to stand up to these intimidatory and harrassment techniques. We need to make public who these stooges among our corrupt MLAS, Politicians and Panchayat members are and how they operate to push the interests of the builders and the Hotel Lobby. We should name them and shame them so that they are exposed and stop their chicanery, harrassment and intimidation. Is the Government of Goa dumb that they do not see the wishes of the Goan people or are they just blinded by their greed for money and power? The close nexus and ties between the Politicians, builders, corrupt Panchayat members, Town and Country Planning Department is obvious to even a child. Who do these people think they are fooling? Is there no end to their greed? During Mr Rahul Gandhi's visit to Goa our Goan youth gave him a very clear message of what kind of Development they want for our beloved Goa. I hope the Chief Minister and our politicians were listening or dio they not get the message? If they do not heed the wishes of the Goan people they have no right to represent the Goan people. Let them not be fooled that they are invincible as the voice and the power of the people will otherwise teach them a sound lesson. May the true hopes and aspirations of our Goan villages be fulfilled as we celebrate her 60th Republic Day. May our Goan villages be beacons of hope and shining examples for the rest of India. ************************************************************************ Cansaulim villagers say no to mega projects MARGAO: Sunday seemed to be a day of mega projects in South Goa, with these issues dominating gram sabhas in Salcete and surroundings. Cansaulim gram sabha, presided over by the sarpanch, Mr Jose Manuel Fernandes, resolved that no mega projects, including hotels or multi-dwelling units be allowed in the village until proper arrangements for basic necessities like water and electricity are made in the villages of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim by the concerned authorities. Drafting of minutes of the meeting by the secretary also came under the scanner. The resolution, on these mega projects, proposed by Ms Sheela Gracias and seconded by Mr Alvaro D’ Costa, that saw a majority of gram sabha members approving it, declared that no commercial mega projects like hotels or mega commercial housing projects be allowed in the village till such time adequate basic necessities like water and electricity are provided to the villagers by the concerned authorities as the villagers face daily water cuts and power shortages – with some pointing out that it was the fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution that a citizen be provided the same and a denial of the same was violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. The sarpanch, speaking to media, after the gram sabha, said that the meet was against any mega projects or hotels or even multi dwelling units coming up in the village. “The gram sabha members were upset that every now and again electricity fails, and there is a shortage of water. Till proper water and electricity is available no projects should be given permission, was what the gram sabha wanted,” he said. A sidelight – amusing and scary at the same time - was a long time serving former sarpanch stating that the gram sabha had no powers to pass such resolutions, eliciting protests from the villagers that while on one hand the Union Government was trying to empower grass root democracy - that is the village panchayats and gram sabhas - certain elected representatives were still trying to brow beat the villagers and seeking to deny and deprive them of their powers. CANSAULIM VILLAGERS SAY NO TO MEGA PROJECTS – Navhind Times Jan 25th MARGAO: Sunday seemed to be a day of mega projects in South Goa, with these issues dominating gram sabhas in Salcete and surroundings. Cansaulim gram sabha, presided over by the sarpanch, Mr Jose Manuel Fernandes, resolved that no mega projects, including hotels or multi-dwelling units be allowed in the village until proper arrangements for basic necessities like water and electricity are made in the villages of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim by the concerned authorities. Drafting of minutes of the meeting by the secretary also came under the scanner. The resolution, on these mega projects, proposed by Ms Sheela Gracias and seconded by Mr Alvaro D’ Costa, that saw a majority of gram sabha members approving it, declared that no commercial mega projects like hotels or mega commercial housing projects be allowed in the village till such time adequate basic necessities like water and electricity are provided to the villagers by the concerned authorities as the villagers face daily water cuts and power shortages – with some pointing out that it was the fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution that a citizen be provided the same and a denial of the same was violation of Article 14 of the Constitution. The sarpanch, speaking to media, after the gram sabha, said that the meet was against any mega projects or hotels or even multi dwelling units coming up in the village. “The gram sabha members were upset that every now and again electricity fails, and there is a shortage of water. Till proper water and electricity is available no projects should be given permission, was what the gram sabha wanted,” he said. A sidelight – amusing and scary at the same time - was a long time serving former sarpanch stating that the gram sabha had no powers to pass such resolutions, eliciting protests from the villagers that while on one hand the Union Government was trying to empower grass root democracy - that is the village panchayats and gram sabhas - certain elected representatives were still trying to brow beat the villagers and seeking to deny and deprive them of their powers. Also, in a subsequent decision, the gram sabha decided that the NOC given for a project for the construction of 46-odd flats and having a swimming pool and club house be revoked, pointing out that there was an earlier gram sabha resolution - endorsed by the panchayat body at their meeting where new proposed constructions for multi dwellings units should be placed before the gram sabha before any NOC or licence or occupancy certificate was given. The gram sabha wanted the immediate revoking of the licence issued by the village panchayat stating that it was going against the resolution passed on August 5, 2008 by the panchayat body. The drafting of minutes of the earlier gram sabhas by the panchayat secretary also raised hackles with members alleging that there were omissions on his part. The secretary was absent today and the today’s gram sabha was recorded by another panchayat secretary – apparently on deputation from another village. Another topic that came up for discussion – brought up by gram sabha member, Mr Evans Fernandes – saw the sarpanch being asked on the action being initiated on the Park Hyatt Hotel, Arossim consequent to the show cause notice served on them by the Goa State Pollution Control Board for allegedly letting out contaminated water from the hotel into the agricultural fields and ponds. ******************************************************* o SWIMMING POOL ISSUE ROCKS ASSAGAO GRAM SABHA Navhind Times Jan 25th MAPUSA: The Assagao gram sabha that was held on Sunday to discuss important issues pertaining to development and garbage disposal took an unusual turn when villagers objected to construction of swimming pools by influential people settled in Assagao. The villagers said that already the village was facing acute water shortage and to add to their misery large scale constructions along with swimming pools had been permitted by the panchayat in spite of earlier opposition to the same. They said at present there were nearly 15 swimming pools in the entire village and the panchayat should take this matter very seriously. However, the sarpanch, Mr Pradeep Naik sought to wash his hands off the matter saying that all approvals for swimming pools were given by the earlier sarpanch, Mr Victor D’Souza. In the midst of this discussion, a villager pointed out that a large bungalow was coming up in Mazalwaddo just at the foot of the hill and had no proper access but with a provision for a swimming pool, and also did not display the required approval board. Suspecting gross irregularities in this project, the villagers wondered what action the panchayat was planning to take if irregularities in the project came to the fore. Local panch, Mr Ajit Sawant at this juncture informed the gram sabha that the said bungalow belonged to the Chief Minister of Haryana. The members on hearing this became agitated and questioned the panchayat as to why there were double standards - one set of rules for influential persons and another for the lay persons. A villager, Mr Clayton Fonseca then demanded immediate revocation of the licence, if any, that has been issued by the panchayat to the concerned party and asked the sarpanch to take necessary action. Mr Naik obliged and said that he would go in accordance with the wishes of the gram sabha and send a notice to the party. Mr Sawant, meanwhile, blamed prominent real estate dealers from Assagao, who were buying and selling land to outsiders. He wondered why in the first place local residents were selling or were instrumental in selling the village land to outsiders. Besides this issue that took considerable time, the garbage issue was also hotly discussed. Villagers also pointed out to large scale garbage that was openly being dumped along Assagao roads. The sarpanch, informing the villagers that the work on acquiring a garbage site at Badem was underway, said that on his part he was ready to take all necessary steps to tackle this menace. He also called upon the people to complain either to him or to the police if anyone was found dumping garbage. Among those who participated in the discussion were Ms Lourdes Sudhir, Mr Owen Braganza and other villagers. Subject: Cansaulim be alert Well Done to the Cansaulim People for saying NO to the destructive Mega-Projects. I would however request them to be alert and watch out for specific Anti-Goan MLA's, Panchayat Members, Builders and their agents; who will try to do what it takes to realise their illegitimate profits via bribery, corruption, intimidation, false police cases, delaying tactics by quasi-judicial bodies, false propaganda etc; we have seen such tactics used in Carmona, Colva, Benaulim and many other parts of Goa. Arwin Mesquita, UAE
