CORTALIM:
“The MLA is not the authority to grant permission to such activities. No sooner was I informed by the Tourism Minister that helicopter rides were due to commence that day (February 11), I immediately expressed my apprehensions to him considering the eco-sensitive nature of the beach. But the Minister informed me that the activity was taking place on the hotel’s private land and not on the beach,” Saldanha said in a press release.
“To satisfy myself of the ground reality, I along with my personal secretary, Cliff Vaz, inspected the area around the hotel and found no trace of any helipad. My PS was informed by the security guard that the helipad is within the compound of the hotel,” Saldanha added.
Saldanha also informed that two days later, she had met the sarpanch of Cansaulim and also the local panch at her office and inquired if any permission/NOC was granted by the panchayat for
the activity.
“When they said that no permission was granted, I told them to act as per law,” Saldanha said, adding further: “till date, no individual, villager or group has approached me to inform about the activity nor she received any complaints on the issue.”
“It is totally wrong on the part of Activist Judith Almeida to falsely state at a public meeting at Cansaulim market on Monday that I have given my consent to the activity without consulting the panchayat or the villagers,” said Saldanha.
“Those who claim to fight for justice and truth should not resort to lies to mislead the public,” Saldanha added.
