intro
Today is the fifth day of former Sancoale Sarpanch Premanand Naik’s hunger strike at Sancoale panchayat against the Bhutani project in the village. Goemkarponn Editor Suraj Nandrekar meets him to find out more about the project and his hunger strike.
Excerpts:
Goemkarponn: Premanandbab, tell us about your hunger striker and why you felt it was necessary.
Premanand Naik: See it all began in 2007, 08 and 09 when the Mtech project came into this village when I was sarpanch and people vehemently opposed it. The panchayat was with people and went to court and stopped the project in 2009. The same project came as the Bhutani project and people are opposing it. Even the four panch members have opposed it. One fine day they brought bouncers to the site and whenever people came they were taking videos.
The project of 72 villas has no proper road access. Where will basic amenities like water and power come from? We spoke to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and he says he has nothing to do with the project. So what do we do?
Goemkarponn: My question remains what was the reason for the hunger strike was the panchayat and government not acting?
Premanand Naik: We had to take this drastic step as nobody in government was taking any action. The CM says he is not involved the TCP Minister says he has nothing to do with it, so who is responsible and accountable? Who will give us answers? I prayed to CM and Vishwajit to come here and see for themself and then take a decision.
But they say they are not involved but under whom do the forest, and police departments come? They came to cut trees, we called the Forest department and they replied saying they had no vehicle. We also know for sure barring four, all other panchayat members are involved.
We held a meeting and decided to oppose this project.
Goemkarponn: Pls continue…
Premanand Naik: After that meeting, the panchayat issued a show cause notice and now Bhutani or Parmesh Constructions has replied admitting that they do not have 36 permissions. They have also alleged that all 11 members are harassing them and demanding money. What is happening at a meeting in Azad Maidan it was decided that I would sit on an indefinite hunger strike from October 21. But one day prior electricity was disconnected here so that we do not go ahead with a hunger strike.
Goemkarponn: Did you question the panchayat on Bhutani’s reply and allegations?
Premanand Naik: The letter is there in the panchayat for everyone to see. We know for sure many panch members have taken suitcases and four are with us to fight the project.
Goemkarponn: So what is your demand to end this hunger strike?
Premanand Naik: Many people are coming to tell me that I withdraw or end the strike. My only demand is that panchayat NOCs be withdrawn and I will end the strike in five minutes. Our MLA Anton Vas came here, and the South Goa MP Capt Viriato also wanted me to end the strike because of my health but I told the same thing.
Goemkarponn: Anybody from the government has approached you to end the strike?
Premanand Naik: No not at all. Forget the government, the sarpanch of Sancoale is not coming to the office because I am sitting on a hunger strike here. Instead of looking into my demands, the government is using its machinery to forcefully end my strike. SP, DySP, Mamlatdar, and Collector all came here yesterday to forcefully be taken to the hospital. I told them I had no medical complaint and they could not force me to go. What if they kill me in the hospital? What then?
Goemkarponn: What is the main reason for opposing the Bhutani project?
Premanand Naik: See as I have told you, this was a forest area and now only 35000 sq meters of land has been cleared for the project. The gradient is 75 p.c. The main reason is environmental damage. We do not want Goa to become like Wayanad in Kerala. I want to know from CM, why are you playing with the lives of people and why you want to force projects which are unwanted by people.
Goemkarponn: We know the entire village is supporting you but what about the family? What has been their reaction?
Premanand Naik: My wife has clearly said that she does not mind if I die in this hunger strike fighting against the Bhutani project, which is a curse on the people of Sancoale. I have had great support from my family on this issue.