CANACONA
Around 480 residents supported the resolutions that no non-agricultural project, real estate or other construction be allowed on any plateau or community lands in Loliem, virtually rejecting the IIT project proposed on Bhagwati plateau.
Incidentally, only four residents, including Loliem-Polem sarpanch Bhushan Prabhugaonkar, opposed the resolutions. According to a panch, the panchayat register had recorded the presence of 484 residents at the special gram sabha.
Over 500 residents had signed an application requesting for a special gram sabha to discuss issues pertaining to agriculture, animal husbandry, water resources, rural housing, forest resources and community assets of the village. The special meeting had excluded any explicit discussion on the IIT project in its agenda.
Though the special gram sabha was convened on a weekday, over 480 residents attended the meeting, clearly prepared to take on the fight to protect natural resources in their village. In all, six different resolutions were passed, but all were connected to the common demand that the Bhagwati plateau, Tanshi, Dapot and Madditolop be strictly conserved and protected for conservation and development of social forestry.
The residents also passed resolutions stating that no non-agricultural projects be allowed on these plateaus at any cost, while real estate or other construction projects would also be strictly prohibited on these plateaus and community lands in the village.
The overwhelming anti-IIT lobby took potshots at Sarpanch Bhushan Prabhugaonkar for his pro-IIT stand, especially when Prabhugaonkar sought to speak against the resolutions listed in the agenda. Many residents also took umbrage at Prabhugaonkar for previously implying that the villagers were uneducated in opposing the IIT project.
Many residents then jeered at the wife of Loliem Comunidade Attorney Darshan Prabhugaonkar, who is the sister-in-law of the sarpanch, when she tried to speak in favour of the IIT.
Visibly annoyed at their jeers, she claimed that their actions exposed the difference between educated and uneducated people of Loliem. While Dattaprasad Prabhugaonkar, Denis Fernandes and Ajay Lolyekar were among those who spoke on behalf of the residents, Bhushan, Darshan’s wife and Shailesh Prabhugaonkar argued against the resolutions.
Residents then began demanding a formal discussion on the IIT project on Wednesday, especially since the Director of Panchayats had already vacated ex-parte stay granted on September 23 and had allowed the Loliem panchayat to convene a gram sabha to discuss the proposed IIT project. Prabhugaonkar, however, flatly refused to allow the discussion on the IIT issue and claimed that he would convene a special gram sabha on the vexed IIT project in the first week of November. Former minister and ex-Poinguinim MLA Isidore Fernandes also spoke at the meeting and voiced his support to those opposed to the IIT project. Panchayat Secretary and a BDO Observer were also present at the gram sabha.
The overwhelming anti-IIT lobby took potshots at Sarpanch Bhushan Prabhugaonkar for his pro-IIT stand, especially when Prabhugaonkar sought to speak against the resolutions listed in the agenda. Many residents
also took umbrage at Prabhugaonkar for previously implying that the villagers were uneducated in
opposing the IIT project
