PANJIM: Unfulfilled promise to set up water treatment plant on Chimbel Lake has prompted the villagers to approach the local legislator Tony Fernandes with a reminder to restore the water body.
The villagers said that Fernandes’ previous election manifesto promised to restore/develop the lake, which was among other reasons he was elected to the 40-member House.
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“You had promised us to restore/develop this lake in your Goa Assembly elections manifesto to which you had won and had raised this issue once in the Assembly. Thereafter, citing reason of better and speedy developmental works, you had switched your original party, that is, Congress and had joined the ruling government party. Despite this, I feel sad to point out that no progress happened to develop this lake,” reads the reminder letter by Chimbel Manch to the St Cruz MLA.
On May 29, 2020, the MLA along with PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar had visited the village and held a lengthy discussion with the Water Resources Department and the panchayat members over the development of the lake.
The minister had then assured to set up water treatment plant on this lake which will be used for drinking and agricultural purpose. The project was estimated at around Rs 20 crore and time required for completion was around 18 months.
With one-and-half year already passed, the Manch said they are awaiting commencement of the work.
“Development of this lake is every villager’s wish and there is no hurdle or objection from anyone. Hardly any time is left for the upcoming Assembly elections and we don’t know whether this promise will be fulfilled. Therefore, we request you to review the issue and take forward the work,” the Manch Vice President Ishwar Shirvoikar said in the letter submitted to the office of the local MLA on October 6.
