Benaulim Villagers Action Committee

LIES OF THE SARPANCH NAILED

2009-06-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

The Sarpanch of Benaulim finds it more convenient to address the villagers through the Press rather than face the Gram Sabha members at the meetings. How else can she afford to feed lies to the public? We reproduce below the news report (in Italics) that appeared on the English daily Herald of June 12, 2009 with our responses (in bold).

HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JUNE 11
Benaulim Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes have challenged any person to show any material facts that she and the Panchayat body were persistently remiss in the discharge of her or their duties or have misused or abused powers vested in her or them.
Reacting to the demand raised by residents of Benaulim for the dissolution of the Panchayat body, Carmelina said action contemplated can only be taken on persistent remiss in the discharge of duties of a Sarpanch and or misusing or abusing the powers given by the Panchayat.

BANAULEKARS RESPOND
The Benaulim Villagers don’t blame `our Carmelin’. She sometimes forgets that she is the Sarpanch of the village and conveniently tends to slip away before the commencement of a Gram Sabha, which she herself had convened. Please madam, catch-up on your reading. The sins of Commission And Omission have been deliberated during the adjourned Gram Sabha meeting held on 7.06.2009. Those were the starters. The main course will follow.

She said several members of the so-called Benaulim Action committee were previous members of the panchayat body and sarpanch and they did not form any committee.. “Till date, no panchayat in Goa has formed any ward development committee. The Panchayat Act clearly states that the Panchayat may formulate the Ward Development Committee and the same is not mandatory”, she added.

BANAULEKARS RESPOND
The issues related to the participatory planning for the Benaulim Village are not limited to formulating Committees or the Ward Development Committee [WDC]. It goes beyond the formation of a WDC in Benaulim village to not convening a single meeting of the said WDC even after six months of it being formed. The socio-economic plan was to be ready by November, 2008. We are now in June, 2009. It is heartening to know that the Sarpanch is well versed with the knowledge and interpretation of the Goa Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, and Rules made thereunder. How come she is selectively ignorant of the requirement that Gram Sabha resolutions have to discussed and implemented by the Panchayat Body within the meaning of the Goa Panchayati Raj Act, 1994

The Benaulim Sarpanch sought to know why the media accepts the opinion of few persons, who are all persons who have lost panchayat elections and are making false statements to score points for future elections.

BANAULEKARS RESPOND
BVAC is a forum of all Benaulim Villagers which has been demonstrated time and gain during the past one year. In a village forum, there are bound to be persons who may have contested and lost panchayat elections. They have their social responsibility too.

The Benaulim residents challenge the Sarpanch and her entourage of `no good doers’ to prove any of the statements false. If the Government authorities do not see reason in the so called `false statements’, we are confident that the Judiciary will.

“The opinion of these persons does not represent the remaining 17,000 people who have never been heard and not allowed to be spoken”, she said.

BANAULEKARS RESPOND
The opinion of the Gram Sabha members does matter. How can the GS members speak when she and her Panchayat body does not attend or convene Gram Sabhas in time. Even if one forgets the Village Plan under RP 2021 for the moment, what is Benaulim Panchayat’s track record on other issues during the last two years?

Saying that the panchayat had always been acting as per the law, Carmelina has challenged any person to show any non-action during the present term of functioning. “The Sarpanch and all ward members have started the cleaning of drains. However, till date, the secretary has not cleared the drain cleaning amount of last year”, she said.

BANAULEKARS RESPOND
The Sarpanch and her ward members appear to be in a stupor. The clogged and the dirty drains are a testimony to her false assertions. The Panchayat is yet to start the cleaning work till date. Having made a statement to the press, it could have been prudent on her part to start work on at least a single drain as a face saving measure. The Gram Sabha had been vociferously urging the panchayat to commence de-silting/cleaning operations from mid-May since it is comparatively less expensive to procure labour and easier to clean the drains. As for the secretary not clearing the drain cleaning amount of last year, need we say anything about the efficiency of the Sarpanch and the Panchayat to get things done.

Asserting that no construction license had been approved during the present term, the Sarpanch has challenged any person to show any file or mega construction approved during her terms as Sarpanch.

BANAULEKARS RESPOND
The Sarpanch’s diversionary tactics are very evident. No Gram Sabha member has ever complained that this Panchayat Body has approved mega construction projects recently. We stand by our statements that the Sarpanch, including the Panchayat Body has failed to take action on the irregularities committed by the licence holders of these so called mega projects. The inaction on part of the Panchayat Body for the last one year can be deduced as a `Safeway’ for the builders to complete the construction without any hindrance.

She, however, said many mega projects which received approval from PWD and obtained NOC from the TCP, wherein the so-called Action Committee has failed to confront the other departments.

BANAULEKARS RESPOND
This statement again proves her immaturity. There is a redressal mechanism withing the Directorate of Panchayats and in the judicial system available for the Panchayat to appeal if it feels that the PWD, TCP or other Departments have erred. The Gram Sabha has got the undisputed right to question the Panchayat. The Panchayat Body cannot expect the GS members to confront each and every Department.. It is the duty of the Panchayat to do that. It cannot abdicate its responsibility and only use or abuse its powers.

She said the bais of the so called Action committee members toward here is well know after they tried to put a garland of slippers on her on the day of her election as village Sarpanch.

BANAULEKARS RESPOND

BVAC would not like to be drawn into this controversy of the garland of slippers. The Chairperson of BVAC is on record having welcomed the new Sarpanch on her getting elected to the post. The photograph on the newspaper showed two persons holding a garland of slippers. These two people later clarified that it was not meant for a particular person and that they were holding the garland to remind the new Sarpanch that the villagers will garland them with slippers if they do not function effectively. The elections to the Sarpanch were held behind closed doors with police protection. There were three candidates in the fray. There was no way that these people could have known that Carmelina would get elected as a Sarpanch. Unless she says that the elections were rigged and the result was announced before the election process even started. That is not the view of the BVAC and, hence, it is unfair to accuse us of having personal animosity against her. We have none.. We only want the person who is elected as the Sarpanch of our village to be 'the first among equals' and keep the interest of the village and villagers uppermost in all he or she does. The one who is unprepared to do this should step down and make way for the one who is willing and able to do it. There are enough Panch members vying for that post, if she finds it a burden on her conscience and on her shoulders.

OF LEGENDS, LAWYERS & LADRAOS

2009-06-12T09:30:00.000-07:00

Among the greatest Goans… goes the title of a feature written by Valmiki Faleiro on the daily Herald of 10th June, 2009. It’s the 150th birth anniversary of Roque Correia-Afonso. "Roque Correia was a legendary advocate from the ‘garden’ village of Benaulim", says Valmiki Faleiro. Valmiki articulates the qualities of this multi-faceted persona – advocate, journalist, politician and statesman from the `once’ quaint village of Benaulim and summaries this legend as `Though an acclaimed advocate, this “champion of lost causes,” who all his adult life fought oppressive officialdom, leveraged his intellect, legal skills, powerful oratory and a mighty pen for the dignity and political rights of Goans’

It’s quite ironical that the villagers of Benaulim had to serve a `legal notice’ on the non-functioning of the local Panchayat body to the Government of Goa on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of this illustrious son of Benaulim. If RCA was instrumental in enactment of enlightened laws to revive ‘ganvkaris,’ through better agricultural practices (he had a particular fondness for coconut cultivation, which he dubbed the “major wealth of Goa”), the current Panchayat Body of Cana-Benaulim is ironically on a mission to do exactly the opposite of what RCA strived throughout his life.

Valmiki wrote, "RCA inherited not just the name and legal mind, but, from his grandpa’s lap, love for humanity and for Goa." Today, Benaulim boasts of professional in many fields, perhaps the influence or inheritance of the qualities from luminaries like RCA. Its quite ironical that social minded `nobodys’ from the village better known as `layman’ had to wake up and get a lawyer from Margao to safeguard the interests of our petite Benaulim.

Is anybody listening ??????

BANAULEKARS PROTEST

2009-06-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

An impromptu call to a few social minded activists of Benaulim saw nearly two hundred villagers of Benaulim turn up at the Deputy Director of Panchayats, South Goa, Smt. Shabari Manjrekar on 10th June, 2009, to protest regarding the functioning of the Benaulim Panchayat. Advocate Anacleto Viegas, on behalf of Mr. Cyriaco Barretto, Pesident of Benaulim Residents Consumer Forum served a legal notice to the Director of Panchayats and submitted a copy to the Deputy Director's office regarding the functioning of the Benaulim panchayat. An oral representation was also made by Ms. Geraldine Fernandes & Mr. Benny Fernandes, Chairperson and President of the BVAC. Coincidentally, the day happens to be the 150th Birth anniversary of Roque Correia-Afonso, the legendary advocate from the ‘garden’ village of Benaulim.
The complaint states, "In my notice dated December 30, 2008, my clients had requested you to initiate action against the village panchayat within 15 days. Inspite of the passage of six months from the date of notice, no response or communication has been received from you.'' The legal notice has brought to the fore the functioning of the Benaulim panchayat and its "failure to carry out any worthwhile work leading to hardship for the people. My clients request that the village panchayat be placed under suspension and its duties be entrusted to an administrator till the completion of inquiry.'' Smt. Shabari Manjrekar said she would inquire into the charges of irregularities besides finding out the role played by the block development officer in the matter of granting leave to the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch on the day the Gram Sabha was convened. The officer noted that a detailed report will be submitted to the Director so he could take necessary action if the charges were found true. The notice states that the Benaulim Panchayat has not yet convened a meeting of the ward development committee. It highlighted the deficiency in convening only two ordinary gram sabhas against the stipulated four. The meeting scheduled for July was convened in August last year but held in October, while the October gram sabha was not held. Similarly, the January 2009 Gram Sabha was convened in March. No proposals were discussed and the April Gram Sabha was not convened. Moreover, seven fortnightly meetings were held in ten months against the stipulated 20. The charges also include Gram Sabhas adjourned arbitrarily on three occasions without the consent of the Gram Sabha members and a 2-3 week gap between meetings, time wasting tactics and failure to give satisfactory answers. Advocate Anacleto Viegas also served the legal notice to the Block Development Office informing them, "Please note that this as our last and final notice and if action is not forthcoming from your end, the matter shall be referred to the high court on completion of 15 days from the receipt of the notice.''

The villagers later met the District Collector Mr. G. P. Naik who promised to refer the matter to the Chief Secretary for immediate action.

The villagers then marched to the office of the Block Development Office only to find both BDO’s absent. The villagers who were a bit disappointed were addressed by Mr. Seby Fernandes, Convener of BVAC infront of the BDO’s office. Geraldine pointed out that the Panchayat was instigating the people to come out on the streets and agitate, whilst appealing to the Sarpanch to step down gracefully and save Benaulim from destruction. The villagers were also addressed by Mr. Benny Fernandes.

The villagers later dispersed, vowing to take the fight to its logical conclusion, no matter what it takes.

Blogger writer on civic issues assaulted in Goa

2009-05-01T00:11:00.000-07:00

" Benaulim, a coastal village in South Goa, is one of the severalcoastal villages which have been resisting the construction of megaresidential projects, which villagers allege have been permitted byflouting panchayat rules and regulations. "

Wednesday, 25 February 2009 http://www.nerve.in/news:253500207783

Panaji, Feb 25 - Less than a month after an anti-mining web blogger inGoa was slapped with a Rs.5 billion defamation suit, another bloggerwas assaulted in the coastal town of Benaulim, allegedly forhighlighting civic issues.

Colva Police Inspector Edwin Colaco said Maximo Rodrigues, a civilsociety activist, was beaten up by four people Tuesday while he wastaking photographs of an illegal construction in Benaulim to be postedon his blog.

'We have arrested Raymond and David Fernandes in connection with thecomplaint filed by Maximo Rodrigues. We are on the lookout for anotherperson who was also involved in the assault,' said Colaco.

Maximo, who is a part of the Benaulim Villagers Action Committee -,runs a community blog www.bvacbenaulim.blogspot.com that highlightsissues of rampant unplanned development in Goa.

'The posts on our blog are mainly about haphazard development in thename of mega projects and illegal constructions in the coastal villageof Benaulim,' Maximo told IANS from his hospital bed.

The 42-year-old has been hospitalised for severe injuries to his headand a broken nose. He is expected to be discharged Thursday.

Maximo's blog, which has been cross-indexed with several blogs run byactivists in Goa, reads 'this blog is our cry, our call, our voice toyou wherever you are located in the world to extend your support andsolidarity with all the fighting Banaulekars. Come let's join oureffort to defend Benaulim'.

While the last two posts on the blog describe the assault on Maximo,other posts are accompanied by photographs of several instances ofalleged illegal construction, destruction of water-bodies and policeatrocities on the villagers of Benaulim.

'The blog helps us showcase the issues which affect Benaulim and arenot covered effectively in the media,' Maximo said.

'Development is fine, but constructions rabidly coming up is not. Wehave had an unprecedented number of cases of malaria in the lastcouple of years and there is simply no interest shown by theadministration in handling the disease,' he added.

Benaulim, a coastal village in South Goa, is one of the severalcoastal villages which have been resisting the construction of megaresidential projects, which villagers allege have been permitted byflouting panchayat rules and regulations.

Like Maximo, Sebastian Rodrigues, who passionately blogs aboutexcesses by iron ore mine operators in Goa's less glamouroushinterland was targeted for allegedly defaming the mining outfit andaffecting its business. He was slapped with a criminal defamation suitof Rs.5 billion in the last week of January.

Benaulim's blogger Maxie Rodrigues assulted, hospitalized

2009-02-24T02:38:00.000-08:00

Benaulim village resident and blogger Maxie Rodrigues was today assaulted by two people at 11.30 am in his village of Benaulim at a spot called 'Voltar'. He was hit on his face and left on the road by two people from Benaulim itself that are involved in encroaching the public water pathway - 'nalhas'.

Maxie is involved in maintaining Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) blog www.bvacbenaulim.blogspot.com that depicts problems faced by Benaulim village due to real estate invasion.

He then in an injured state with blood oozing out of his nose went to the Colva Police Station to lodge a complaint. PI Edwid Colaco then sent his for medical examination. At E-ray test conducted it was confirmed that he has suffered from fracture of the nose bone.

Colva Police returned to meet Maxie Rodrigues at 2.15 today and his statement is recorded in order to register the case and proceed ahead on investigations.

When contacted Maxies at Hospicio Margao he said that two people - David Fernandes and his brother Raymond Fernandes from Benaulim itself are his attackers. Their Father Satan Fernandes was present at the site and was hurling abuses at him (Maxie Rodrigues).

The reason for attack according to the injured Maxie is that yesterday he had photographed illegally encroached nallah by the attacker's family. "Today they have taken revenge against me with this assault" is what Maxie told when he was contacted in Hospicio still taking treatment at 3.20 pm today.

What has happened is indeed very sad and repentable as with the influence of Political godfather fellow villager taking pictures of the illegality is being targetted with assault.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Breaking News II - Benaulimkars surround Cova Police Station

2008-09-16T23:20:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 10:59 PM

Further to the police stopping and searching the the Benaulim bound buses from Panjim 's Azad Maidan Meeting at the Zuari Bridge, police apparently looking for 8 youths from Benaulim who have been charged (falsely perhaps) with assaults at the yesterday's Benaulim meeting with the BDO, the entire village of Benaulim has now surrounded the Colva Police station braving heavy downpours prevailing on the Police to release the arrested youths.

Things could go out of hands and it is presumed that the Benaulimkar's resolve has been made to call a spade a spade.

Hopefully, better sense will prevail with the police officials of the Colva Police station.

floriano
goasuraj
10.59 hours - 16/9/08

Breaking News- Benaulimkar's being Arrested.

2008-09-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 8:51 PM

The buses that arrived in Panjim with Benaulikars to attend the massive DCSCM Solidarity Meet at Azad Maidan this evening have been stopped by the Police at the Zuari Bridge on their return trip allegedly on the instructions of the Tourism Minister Micky Pacheco and are in the process of arresting the male Benaulikars at this very moment.

After an alert call to me from Seby Rodrigues (the naxalite) from Panjim, I have just talked to Geraldine Fernandes, the chairperson of BVAC who is with the crowd at the site of incidence. Couldn't get more info from her as her cell's battery is running low. This stoppage and the possible arrests has something to do with the yesterday's explosive meet the Benaulimkars had yesterday.

floriano
goasuraj

Benaulim roars and some ears open!

2008-09-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

Big Breaktrough BANAULEKARS CRY IS HEARD The center is teaching Goa's Higher-ups that GOA IS FRAGILE....... Outside people can understand what Goa is but our own leaders as they have become slaves of Corporates determinted to loot Goa at all costs.............

Colva Police Inspector Edwin Colaco apologised after he illegally stopped 6 buses on Zuari bridge Cortalim junction carrying Benaulim people from Panjim on 16th September 2008. He must be dismissed from service for his actions. Any way he is going all out in his efforts to get Rudolf Barretto of Benaulim out of his Job for contributing so positively to the welfare of his village. So let PI Colaco too get a taste of what it means to be removed from the service. Even if he is dismissed he is guaranteed to be hired either by Westwinds, Micons, Grace constructions or any of the remaining 23 destructive mega projects in Benaulim for he has been carrying on all the dirty job of suppressing opposition to the projects.

Tension in Benaulim People gathered at the main road hearing the news of arrests by the colva P.I of two activists at Cortalim Juction.....
People marching towards the Colva Police station on September 16th night........

Huge crowd gathered at the entrance of colva police station at 9:30pm to ask as to why authorities had arrested the activists and on what grounds.......
The Huge Man came for the rescue of Banaulekars like an ANGEL in the odd hours without looking back. Its Adv. Anacleto Viegas .....(GOD SHOWED THE WAY) And it should be very clear to the Higher-ups by now as to Who are instigating locals to creat an unlawful situation in Benaulim....Its Goa Police-Builders-Politician nefarious nexus!
People gheraoed the Colva police station..........late night .........and left at around 11:30pm........when they saw the activists were freed but P.I WAS NOT TO BE SEEN...........

Once again a historic day for the Sarpanch of Benaulim..... on 15th Sept. she announced a Panchayat body meeting to pass some more Mega Projects files which were pending as every Serectary used to join the duty taking advance sick leave!

People questioned the B.D.O as to why Gram Sabha is not held.......and no Panchayat body meeting will be held unless and untill Gram Sabha is held........
It was surprising to see a B.D.O present for a panchayat body meeting.......can authorities justify the B.D.O.'s presence for this meeting ? Has he shifted his office from Margao to Benaulim Panchayat to facilitate land grab of Benaulim?

Heroic and bold people of Benaulim questioned the B.D.O why Gram Sabha is not held and what action has been taken for cancelling the Gram Sabha by the Sarpanch...
Woman in yellow dress is Benaulim Sarpanch who is all out to finish Benaulim. But Banaulekar will never allow her to succeed in her dangerous designs to finish Benaulim and its future.

People did not allow the Panchayat body meeting to proceed.......NO RESOLUTIONS, NO LICENCES UNTILL AND UNLESS GRAM SABHA IS HELD...... Then false police cases were filed on Benaulim villagers by few Panchayat members....the struggle continues....

BVAC Team

The Micon Realtors scandal in Benaulim

2008-09-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

The five metres wide communidade nallah running between the two properties of Micon, now encroached upon and reduced to just 3 metres. Will the TCP explain as to how the builder claimed the area for FAR calculation when the two properties cannot be ammalgameted due to this communidade nallah runing in between.

And soon this pond will be filth... from Micon

The public access to the left and the sheer drop of over two metres to the right. Is this a safe access for elderly people?
The mouth of the communidade nallah

The public access blocked with bamboo and palm leaves fencing.

The cracked retaining wall of the public access
A close-up of the cracked retaining wall of the public access
Up.. down... down... here we go down the wildberry bush

Another view of the public access blocked with bamboo and palm leaves fencing.

of public access and broken limbs

BVAC Team

Booster dose from Sundarlal Bahuguna in Benaulim

2008-09-04T02:53:00.000-07:00

Internationally renowned environmental activist and leader of the"Chipko" movement for the preservation of forests in the Himalayas, Sunderlal Bahuguna, addressed a large gathering organised by the GanvGhor Rakhonn Manch [GGRM] in association with the Centre for Panchayati Raj [CPR-PS] on 3rd September 2008, at Dando ground, Benaulim. He was accompanied by his wife Vimla, noted environmental activist and leader of Karnataka's Appiko movement, Mr. Pandurang Hegde, and others.Sunderlal Bahuguna released the book by Dr. Sudhirendar Sharma entitled PARADISE LOST... ALMOST.

A Prakruti report on the Western Ghats on as is where is basis' in 2006. He also released the fourth issue of PARPOTI [Konkani word for "Village Messenger" who went from street to street to make public announcements when newspapers were not read by many and a radio was a luxury few could afford.] edited by Soter D'Souza for CPR-PS.

This issue has one model of a Participatory Planning Process for developing Regional Plan from among the models discussed by the GBA.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Bahuguna complimented the people of Goa for leading a struggle that is an inspiration to the people in the rest of India. "It will awaken the children of Bharat Mata to come to her rescue against the relentless onslaught of urbanisation." he said. "Democracy thrives where the people are awakened. It is the people who make democracy live, not governments and elected representatives, he added.

On the Tourism front, Shri Bahuguna informed the people that the Swiss do not sacrifice their environment for their tourism. Switzerland,with its villages and forests is still one of the favourite tourist destinations in the world. People leave their mansions and plush surroundings all over the world to enjoy the natural beauty of Goa. Do not try to provide the tourists the very thing they try to escape from, it will kill tourism, he reminded. Maintain your natural beauty. "Why do you want to cut your nose to own a nose stud?" he asked metaphorically.

Earlier, Smt. Geraldine Fernandes, convener of GGRM and leader ofBVAC, welcomed the gathering and specially thanked the members of the print & electronic media and the Hindu brethren who had come to the meeting in large numbers to listen to Shri Bahuguna, inspite of the celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi, the family festival in almost every home accross Goa.

Smt. Romana Cardoz from Siridao asked the Government to jail the entire village if it thought the Gram Sabha did any wrong, but not to target with trumped up charges about ten youth who are about to start their careers. Arrest the promoters of the projects at Siridao for disturbing the village peace, she said, naming the persons involved.Menino de Bandar sang a song on SEZ and "development" being promoted in Goa these days while Shri Teotonio da Costa from Majorda asked the people not to get distracted by the red herring of the script controversy that was raised again in the Goa Legislative Assembly, 16years after its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 1992. In the market place we are forced to speak Hindi and Kannada as the petty traders do not know to speak Konkani. Let the Goa Government correct that situation first and then speak about the script, he said.

The Government is afraid of the people's unity in the Gram Sabha meetings and wants to divide the people on script and religion basis so that it can get away with the rape of Goa's land, he added.

The Chipko movement which literally means 'to stick' (to the trees), spread throughout Uttar Pradesh from 1973 and achieved a major victory in 1980 with a ban on felling of live trees above 1000 metres MSL inthe Himalayan forests by order of India's then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. A similar ban was later also implemented in the states ofUttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh. The movement spread to HimachalPradesh in the north, Karnataka in the south, Rajasthan in the west,Bihar in the east and to the Vindhyans in central India. In additionto the ban in Uttar Pradesh, the movement succeeded in halting clear felling in the Western Ghats and the Vindhyas, as well as generating pressure for a natural resources policy more sensitive to people'sneeds and environmental factors. He received the Right To LivelihoodAward in 1987.

Fr. Maverick Fernandes of CSJP, Mr. Kumar Kalanand Mani of Peaceful Society, Soter D' Souza of CPR-PS, Pravin Sabnis of the GBA, Arch.Kamlakar D.Sadhale of Nirmal Vishwa, Adv. Shanti Almeida of TBA, and representatives of village level movements across Salcete, Tiswadi and Bardez were present on the dais. Soter and members of the GGRM led the people in singing the song, "Utt Goykara, Utt!"

Mog asundi.
Miguel Braganza

Picture courtesy BVAC

Don't insult Benaulim Mr. Panchayat Minister!

2008-09-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

31st August 2008

Benaulim Villagers’ Action Committee strongly condemns the insults by the Panchayati Raj Minister, Shri Manohar Azgaonkar in the newspapers today as they are anti-people and fabricated lies, to suit the corrupt.

Mr. Azgaonkar will do well to explain the action of Panchayat Secretaries, who mysteriously go on sick leave on the eve of the Gram Sabhas and are subsequently seen attending duty at the Block Develoment Office [BDO] in the respective taluka HQ. He should explain to the people as to what action he has taken on the Panchayat Secretary, Mr. Subodh Prabhu, who deliberately sat on a construction proposal file, attended hearings and pronouncement of orders in the Office of the Dy. Director of Panchayats and kept the Panchayat in the dark about it, thereby facilitating the builder to get construction license under the ‘deeming’ clause which is abuse of office.

The Benaulim villagers have been peacefully agitating for their rights for the past five months. The BVAC and the people of Benaulim are demanding revocation of construction licenses through proper procedure based on gross irregularities, misrepresentation of facts and encroachment on public property. We challenge Mr. Azgaonkar to substantiate his statement regarding harassment to any of the Panchayat staff by holding a people’s darbar at the Panchayat Ghar or convening a special Gram Sabha meeting through the Panchayat. We promise to provide evidence wherein one of the Panchayat Staff has confessed to pressure from the higher authorities to give false statements/reports against the villagers of Benaulim.

If Mr. Azgaonkar is so clean and sincere on development, he should provide a honest, full-time Panchayat Secretary to Benaulim as a first step. Due action should be imitated against the Panchayat Body, which has consistently failed to hold Gram Sabha meetings as required under the law. Action must also be initiated on the Sarpanch of Benaulim who is yet to conduct a single Fortnightly meeting of the Panchayat Body from the time she was elected as Sarpanch, in contravention of the law. The Panchayat Minister must initiate action against the Director of Panchayats , Deputy Director of Panchayats-South and the BDO of Salcette, who have been sitting on a petition filed on May 12, 2008 under Section 200 of the Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 for dissolution of the Panchayat on grounds of persistent default in the performance of duties.

We also challenge Mr. Azgaonkar and the Chief Minister (who is on record stating that licenses can be revoked if construction rules and regulations are found to be violated) to visit Benaulim with his team from the Town & Country Planning Dept., PWD, BDO, the Directorate of Panchayats and the Dy. Collector. The villagers will be too happy to point out the violations and illegalities to the authorities and to the media. Let the whole world know. We challenge the authorities to take action on the acts of omission & commission committed by the authorities, including the Panchayat Body.

In Benaulim, the carpenter does not impart climbing techniques to the toddy tapper, the fisherman will never attempt to teach the mason to mix cement, the advocate never dreams of preaching on the pulpit and the visiting cobbler will stick to mending the shoes. The list is endless. In short they don’t preach what they don’t comprehend. They practice what they know. We suggest the Panchayat Minister does the same.

Seby Fernandes
(BVAC Convenor)

Related stories on this: click colored words for hyperlinks below

Azgaonkars' statement in herald

Azgaonkar's statement in navhind times

Benaulim Police presence in navhind times

Benaulim Police presence in herald

News of Gram Sabha being called off

Panchayat body playing truant on August 31 Gram Sabha

Goa Police as most unwanted guests in Benaulim

2008-09-01T21:24:00.000-07:00

Goa Government is increasingly engaging in inflicting police terror against the villagers of Benaulim. Yesterday, September 01, 2008 was one such day when Rudolf Barreto, an active citizen of Benaulim and joint secretary of Benaulim Villagers Action Committee (BVAC) was rudely awaken from his sleep at midnight hour 2.00 am by Colva Police Inspector Edwin Collasso with group of police personnel accompanying him. His whole family peace was disturbed at an unearth hour all for the benefit of the builders and to demoralize Rudolf Barreto. We wonder if day time was not sufficient to communicate this to citizens that Goa Police chose to knock on citizens doors at such an extremely odd hour?

All that he had to tell is that to call off September 01, 2008 meeting scheduled well after the sunrise to condemn local panchayat of Benaulim for getting into dubious nexus with builders. It was clear as to on whose masters order that he was moving about the uncalled for hour to attend crisis that builders are facing due to assertion of Banaulekars.

Colva Police Inspector went further on to warn that in case the meeting is not called off then State government was prepared to get eight truck load of police to deal with Benaulim citizens. This is a warning that seriously doubts democratic character of present day Goa government.

Banaulekars hardly cared for the warnings of Police Inspector and went to organise the meeting and confronted the police authorities. The entire focus of the day long police action in Benaulim on September was to target just two people that Goa Government falsely perceive to be leaders: Geraldine Fernandes and Rudolf Barretto. The targeting of the two has further infuriated Banaulikars. Two buses of Goa armed police was brought near the Benaulim Panchayat at 8.00 am - barely four hours after the PI Collasso warning of eight trucks - two protect Benaulim Panchayat leadership that has betrayed its people and is involved in massive fraud of sale of Benaulim to Builders.

Police were hassled throughout the day and questioned and told that they are most unwanted guests in Benaulim, and they should leave immediately. In spite of that Police stayed in the village guarding the Panchayat for the entire day.
Magistrate was called and rumours went floating in the air that lathi charge is on the cards as Benaulim, according to the State administration is turning increasingly unruly. But that is not true at all, Benaulim people are highly responsible; it is the Goa government that is dancing to the tune of Builders and Real Estate Agents is speedily turning itself into agent of builders and Banaulekars in collaboration with all the democracy loving people Goa would never allow this to happen irrespective of what are the cost and sacrifice involved.
We wonder why Goa government is choosing Police repression as a solution the questions that we are raising; the advisers of the Goa government are either those less than an average school boys or corporates themselves who wants to push their ways at all costs.

Cana-Benaulim Panchayat is for the People of Benaulim and not for Goa Police. We do not want to see police raj in Goa anywhere and it is true in case of our village too.

Police were involved in ordering Banaulekars out of Benaulim Panchayat premises. We wonder with what authority they were doing it. Perhaps they are thinking that Panchayat is full of people-infested with pests and that needs to be done away with lathis and bullets. By the way all this happens in the 48th year of our liberation. Earlier we faced Portuguese bullets now Goa Police is regularly displaying its own guns on common people of Benaulim and other villages of Goa.
Goa police are only fuming further rebellion amongst people of Goa by such irresponsible repressive actions. The consequences of this will go on shaping our society in the days to come.
We now only expect Police with or without riot gears not only for breakfast, lunch and dinner but also during the time when we go to sleep in the night. Goa Police hence forth are expected to be most unwanted guests in Benaulim all the 24 hours of the day and even beyond if builders fuels state agency further. We are expecting worst and are prepared for the same. This is the battle that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi - Father of our nation- once referred to it as "Do or Die". We have set out to DO, come what may - including Goa Police in riot gears - or even the worse than that.

BVAC Team

Benaulim Public-Police confrontations begins

2008-08-31T22:51:00.000-07:00

According to just received information from Benaulim suggests that Public-Police confrontation has began. Todays meeting at Panchayat Hall was called by the Benaulim Villagers Action Comittee (BVAC) to protest against the calling off of the Gram Sabha two days ago.

Two bus load of police personnel from Goa Armed Police are stationed in Benaulim to intimidate the agitating Benaulim villagers since 8 am this morning to prevent people from organising a protest meeting public meeting.

Till 10.30am today neither Secretary nor Sarpanch had turned up at the Panchayat. This signals massive scandal in the allocation of licences to the builders violating existing laws and conventions of democracy to favour builders lobby.

It is indeed truly amazing to note that the Goa Goverment, and most of its institutions are speedily transforming themselves into agents of real estate lobby.

Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar few days ago had single out Benualim for criticism in the Goa Legislative Asembly for blocking mega projects promoting commercial housing prompting sharp response from BVAC.

Benaulim struggle in defence of village land and identity is not showing any signs of subsiding and with deployment of force at the instance of bulders lobby only going to intensify it further.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Micon Realtors' coastal paradise is Benaulim's nightmare

2008-08-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

Benaulim villagers are fighting village Panchayat over various irregularities over granting of constructions permissions by Cana-Benaulim Panchayat. Micon Realtors are right at the centre BVAC target.
Our Panchayat gave licences for construction purposes violating various laws. Instead of anwering at Gram Sabha Sarpanch invokes Police repression. We know from where the strings are being pulled!

The aim of constructions like these - mega housing projects is to cause destabilization of population of Benaulim and reduce us into minority.
Constructions have come in ecologically sensitive areas. Builders-Politicians nexus is responsible for the curse on Benaulim. The nexus is supported by the ruling government in Goa today.

Traditional water bodies such as this wetland is a major casualty of the builders' wrath on Benaulim. Mega projects means ecological suicide of Goa that we must not allow. Let us unite, fight and defeat builder-politician nexus.

BVAC Team

Westwinds Benaulim violations: Some more pictures

2008-08-28T10:34:00.001-07:00

Westwinds, a construction firm has also been in the forefront of blocking tradtional pathways of banaulekars. Here are some more pictures of the project that belongs to Builder in Margao who claims himself to be defender of Goa, Writer, Secular, proponent of Konkni language, had been in the forefront of number of movements; has now turned himself into oppressor of Benaulim and is advocating use of Police force to bulldoze massive uprisings in Goa against mega projects. Interest of Goa has been replaced with interest of his profits. After all people change...

For earlier posting on this subject with comentary click on the following links:

http://bvacbenaulim.blogspot.com/2008/08/westwinds-captures-benaulims-footpaths.html

BVAC Team

The lost grace of Grace Constructions of Benaulim

2008-08-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

One of the registered Mundkars whose mundkarial rights are yet to be settled by Grace Construtions. He had lodged a complaint with the Panchayat in November 2006 even before the Construction Licence was issued. One half and a year later, he was seen crying bitterly at the Gram Sabha in May 2008 when the issue was discussed. Why? The construction licence was given ignoring his complaint.

Clause No. 21 of the Construction Licence mentions that Mundkarial rights shall be protected. The Licence also mentions that THE CONSTRUCTION LICENCE SHALL BE REVOKED in case of NON COMPLIANCE of any of the licence conditions. The Panchayat is playing the role of the Three Monkeys. Mr. CM and Mr. Azgaonkar. Can you tell us if this is in order? Is this not an illegality? Do we call this Grace Construtions or CURSED CONSTRUCTIONS?
Are these steps of uncertainity? Of a system gone haywire?

Grace the grace after blog photo expose by BVAC. First the wells dissapeared during site inspections. After the photo expose on this blog, one of the concrete column dissapears...? The Grace is gone. The Construction too should go. Time is not far away, truth will prevail...
Its a shame on some people of Benaulim who call themselves as professionals (Lawyers, Architects, Surveyors, etc) but not actively supporting the cause. The exposed shuttering above and the tell tale signs of the dissapearing concrete column below. A concrete victory of demolishing concrete without using force or any tool. A result of "UNITY AND PEOPLE'S POWER" Dont forget the example of our Father of the Nation. If He could Free such a Great Nation with Non-violence than What is Benaulim and the Builders... The exposed shuttering above and so also the claims of the law enforcing authorities.

BVAC team

Benaulim cursed with the Grace Constructions

2008-08-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Benaulim is graced by builders. This photo series is exposure of invasion of our land by M/s Grace Constructions. You be the judge after knowing the reality below. More facts will follow in the days to come on this blog. This is just the beginning....

Where will the water fall? On the boundry wall or beyound the boundry wall? Will the concerned authorities look in their plans which they passed without visiting the site? Or will they say "Water seeks its own Direction"? Truly, public authorities have covered their eyes with countless notes from builders. There is no other explanation as to what is happening to our Benaulim, illegalities to the left, right and centre... The mundcar next door has complained to the Panchayat. And the Panchayat is doing the merry-go-round
No setback maintained, Was the inspection carried out by panchayat? Did Technical body forget its high powered lenses spectacles? Brief cases exchanged from builder to Public authorities did the magic here!
Wells without any licence from Panchayat. Wells that dissapear during site inspections and appear subsequently. If builder can do anything in his area of construction regarding water, elecricity, roads then why is there a need of town and country planning department in Goa? Are TCP rules only for a lay man to follow and not for Builders?
Another well located at distance of 100 mts from the other without any approval from the lethargic authorities. They dig as many wells they want, draw as much water you need, free of charge because it was preserved by their forefathers who bowed down to the Portuguese regime like slaves, just to grab the vast tracts of land. Curse on these so called landlords, who allowed the erstwhile rulers to have ` a good time' with their family members just for the love of these illegimate tracts of land.

Or else show us the land records (during Portuguese regime) where its written that this land is bought from so and so person...nowhere youll see it, cause this precious land, has been looked after tenderly and irrigated with love, sweat and blood of the common man, which they are now selling to builders and hoteliers.

These lands were never bought by their forefathers, they were just gifted by Portuguese for reason you can understand...

BVAC Team

Benaulim Hunger Strike against Mega Projects

2008-08-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

Benaulim goes to war against Mega projects, BVAC observed token hunger strike on August 18, 2008 in Benaulim. Everyone present attended the mass in the morning and then marched to the Panchayat to start the hunger strike to oppose the Mega projects in Benaulim. It's a message to the world that God can change the operating system of any human being in seconds. To tell the world that "IN GOD WE TRUST"

Mr. Soter de Souza of Centre for Panchayati Raj, Peaceful Society propagating his message of Solidarity.
Children too on fast for Benaulim...

Its a pity to see young kids attending the hunger strike giving a clear message to the higher-ups, "We Love Benaulim. Please don't destroy it Sir. You too have kids like me. Please listen to their cries. PLEASE DON'T DESTROY MY BENAULIM"
Cecilia from Cavelossim (a neighbouring village), also joined the hunger strike and lent her support to the war against Mega Projects.
Vocal Banaulekars at Hunger Strike... Jessica on the microphone
Benaulim locals in full fledged battle mode... Jackson sounding the bugle
An emotional Geraldine Fernandes speaks of how every local is going to get effected by Mega housing projects in Benaulim and how the `Benaulim Coconut' which is very famous all over Goa & Maharastra is going to vanish forever and the generation next will not get to taste it anymore. She also gave a message to the administration of local panchayat and to the MLA to listen to the People of Benaulim and not to the builders. Notice the elderly gentleman in blue squatting behind her. He is Santano Goes, an ex-panch of Benaulim. As the activists helped him to stand to address the people, his tears said it all.

Movement will continue till authorities heed to the demands of the people of Benaulim.

BVAC Team

Westwinds captures Benaulim's footpaths!

2008-08-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

Has the TCP reformatted the Laws for Builders ? Here is an old footpath used by local residents demarcated as the setback of the Mega- project.

Entrance of footpath.

Anytime, if these temporary sheets are removed after the completion of the project and the Footpath is closed at the entrance, who is to be blamed?

BVAC Team

Sarpanch called Public! Sarpanch called Police!!

2008-08-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

August 11, 2008 was one more historical day in the life of Benaulim village. Our dictatorial Sarpanch Carmelin Fernanades called for the meeting to discuss the pending problems with builder wanting to promote mega projects in our village. She circulated invitation to public to come for the meeting as well as brought in 2 buses of Policemen some in full fledged riot gears and armed with riffles.

Panchayat members being questioned by angry Benaulim People. Blame game being played by the Benaulim Panchayat over the question of licences to the mega projects.

And Police to protect Sarpanch alone from the dangers of citizens of Benaulim.
BVAC members in the middle of the emerging conscious citizenry of Goa
Benaulim Panchayat hall was the venue for the historic occasion wherein Sarpanch walked out of the meeting after failing on a number of counts to answer the questions of the villagers. In fact at the beginning of the meeting she even threatened to close down the meeting. And those questioning were publicly accused of instigating villagers!

This police jeep without police tag was patrolling the Panchayat.
Two buses of Police were on duty. One wonder who called them other than the Benaulim Sarpanch.

It was getting late evening when tempers were running high: villagers were loosing patience with the adamant dictatorial Sarpanch inside the hall. Police were called inside the Panchayat hall. Villagers demanded resignation of Sarpanch. She refused and walked out.
Men and women, young and old were present at the panchayat meeting. Sarpanch entirely blamed the panchayat secretaries that go on sick leave.

Women were vocal in demanding resignation of Sarpanch as well as demanding transparency in the functioning of the Benaulim Panchayat. Geraldine Fernanades even declared that Gram Sabha decision against Mega Projects is the law in the village and neither the director nor his deputy has the right to over rule. Gram Sabha decision is supreme.

Benaulim is showing a new light and a new way for a new society in Goa. Citizens in the rest of Goa has so much to learn, it is such an intense inspiration, you do not remain without being moved by these Benaulim People who have refused to be taken for a ride by the powers that be.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Why this blog?

2008-08-13T08:46:00.000-07:00

Benaulim village is flooded with mega projects that villagers in Benaulim, Goa, India are opposed to. Contruction lobby, Real Estate lobby is all out to finish our village in collaboration with various powerful segments our society leaving our village without land.

This blog is a blog of our cries, our call, our voice to you wherever you are located in the world to extend your support and solidarity with all the fighting Banaulekars.

Do comment on this blog and send us your letters, views and messages. Benaulim Villagers Action Committee can be contacted at our e-mail: banaule@gmail.com

Come lets join in our effort to defend Benaulim.