Saturday, August 31, 2024 – The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Saligao team, accompanied by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, made an official visit to the contentious DLF project site in Verem, Saligao. During this visit, they confronted DLF officials over the ongoing destruction of the Reis Magos hill.
Expressing strong opposition, the AAP Saligao team, led by Viegas, lodged a formal protest against the blatant hill cutting occurring within the Saligao constituency. Viegas raised serious concerns about the Goa government’s apparent favoritism towards real estate developers, questioning whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has turned into a real estate agency, prioritizing the sale of Goa to external interests over the protection of its natural resources.
Demonstrating the instability of the soft mud on the site, which is highly prone to landslides, Viegas warned of the potential for a disaster similar to the Wayanad tragedy if the destruction continues unchecked. “The local residents of Verem, who live at the foot of this hillock, are now at significant risk,” he cautioned.
Viegas further emphasized his attempts to address the issue at the legislative level: “As a concerned Goan, I have repeatedly urged the government to approach this matter with the seriousness it deserves. On August 5, 2024, at 3:39 pm, during the recent monsoon session, I called for the revocation of permissions granted to Bhutani Infra, DLF, and Lodha projects on the Betim hillock. However, it appears that Minister Rane and the BJP government are more interested in aiding these developers than in safeguarding Goa’s interests.”
Dr. Vibhas Prabhudesai, AAP Saligao leader, expressed deep concern over the potential risks to the people of Verem due to unchecked hill cutting, allegedly sanctioned by the BJP government. “I appeal to the residents of Verem to come together and stand against the destruction of our beautiful village, which is being systematically ruined under the BJP’s watch,” said Dr. Prabhudesai, invoking the spirit of “Daad,” the guardian of Verem Village.
Chetan Kamat, another AAP leader, condemned what he termed the ‘Gunda Raj’ of the Delhi real estate mafia, which he believes will bring hardship to local Goans. “It’s time for Goans to rise up, defeat this mafia, and demonstrate our collective strength,” Kamat urged.
Mario Cordeiro, a leader from AAP Saligao, drew a historical parallel, stating, “Vasco da Gama came to conquer Goa 500 years ago, and now it’s the ‘Delhi da Builder’ seeking to invade Goa.”
The AAP leadership has committed to visiting every site in Goa where illegal hill cutting is occurring, vowing to expose the nexus between the BJP and real estate developers.
