CANACONA
The proposed Film City project may have been given a thumbs down at the Loliem Gram Sabha on Sunday, but that has not stopped politicians from directly and indirectly drumming up support for the project at Bhagwati plateau in the village.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had gone to attend the Centenary Celebrations function of Shri Damodar Vidyalaya in Loliem on Wednesday, but what has generated intense speculation and discussion in Loliem are rumours over the nature of chief minister’s two private meetings after this function. Many believe that the chief minister’s private meetings were to gauge feedback and to drum up support for the Film City.
Days after the Loliem-Polem Gram Sabha unanimously rejected the Film City or any other non-traditional developments on the eco-sensitive Bhagwati Plateau, Sawant attended the centenary celebrations of Shri Damodar Vidyalaya in the presence of Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldessai and Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar.
Incidentally, all three leaders had made indirect references to the Film City during the event at Shri Damodar Vidyalaya in Loliem.
While Sawant made a pitch for Film Skilling Centre in Canacona, Tawadkar hinted that only 20% of people dictate terms and decide what is required and not required for any area, while the other 80% remain mum.
Phaldesai also appealed to people to come out of their homes and raise their voices against those few people opposing developments for the ‘Good of the Village’.
After this function, the chief minister and Phaldessai proceeded to the residence of former minister Isidore Fernandes, but were surprised to find a large number of Isidore’s supporters at the residence. They had come to meet the CM with their list of grievances.
On noticing the crowd outside Fernandes’ house, Sawant and Phaldesai went straight inside the house and had a closed-door meeting with Isidore.
“What transpired inside this closed-door meeting with Isidore is not known. Later, all three leaders came out and addressed the grievances of Fernandes’ supporters. Rumours are being floated that the chief minister had discussed the issue of the Film City and had sought the support of Fernandes to set up this project in his village of Loliem,” said a source who is associated with those opposing the Film City.
When contacted, Fernandes, however, stated that the CM had private discussions with him to understand the frustration among the Karyakartas against Tawadkar, in view of the fast approaching Lok Sabha elections.
“Nothing else was discussed at our meeting,” claimed Fernandes.
However, eyebrows were raised regarding the presence of Arun Bhat, a strong supporter of the Film City project and a close aide of Tawadkar and Phaldesai, at the residence of Fernandes.
After the closed-door meeting with Fernandes and a meeting with the BJP workers loyal to Fernandes, the CM then visited the Shri Venkatesh Devalya in Loliem, before proceeding to the residence of Arun Bhat at Panaskandem for dinner.
Those opposing the Film City strongly suspect that this second meeting at the residence of Bhat was also linked to discussions over the Film City project, especially due to the presence of Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Nisha Chari and ex-Sarpanch Bhushan Prabhugaonkar at the residence of Bhat.
Both Chari and Prabhugaonkar are strong supporters of the Film City project. A few other panchas are also reported to have dined with the Chief Minister and his entourage.
