SANGUEM
Social Welfare Minister and Sanguem MLA Subhash Phaldessai and South Goa BJP ST Morcha President Adv Anand Gaonkar have been involved in verbal clashes over the inclusion of private lands into private forest and the subsequent harassment meted to locals by the forest department.
At one news conference in Rivona village, Adv Gaonkar criticised Phaldessai for not supporting the SC/ST community in their demand for exclusion of private lands and those cultivated by members of SC/ST community.
“Instead of taking up demands put forth by the SC/ST community, the Sanguem MLA is concentrating more on putting banners and posters of the party and taking up other issues,” charged Gaonkar.
He added that Phaldessai kept away from meetings convened by them to discuss the issue of private forest and declaration of eco-sensitive zones.
Taking strong exception to Gaonkar’s allegations, Phaldessai in a video challenged Gaonkar to prove if and when he had not supported the SC/ ST community.
Phaldessai claimed that even during the time when he was not an MLA, he had always been with the ST/ST community and that he has been after the government and the forest department for the exclusion of land owned by private parties and those cultivated by locals from the precincts of private forest.
In his video, Phaldessai alleged the role of Gaonkar in selling plots of land to outside parties, who are now affected due to the Private Forest policy by the forest department.
“I have discussed the issue of Private Forest at all levels and even at the assembly sessions,” claimed Phaldessai, while castigating Gaonkar for unwarranted allegations against him.
At another news conference in Sanguem, Gaonkar challenged Phaldessai to prove the allegations made against him by Phaldessai.
“I give Phaldessai six months to prove his allegations that I have sold plots of land to outsiders or else, he should resign as MLA from Sanguem,” claimed Gaonkar, and dared Phaldessai to initiate action against one of his own persons who is into land deals.
