MARGAO: Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado on Friday said his government was committed to restarting mining activities as early as possible and all efforts are being made in this direction.
Furtado also sought to reassure on the vexed issue of finalisation of the Regional Plan by affirming the plan will be put in place to the satisfaction of all.
The minister was speaking at the Independence Day function at the South Goa District Collectorate after unfurling the national flag.
“The government is committed to resume mining activities in the state at an early date and all efforts are being made in this direction”, Avertano told the people. MLAs Rajan Naik and Benjamin D’Silva, District Collector Venancio Furtado, district police chief Shekhar Prabhudessai, Margao Municipal Chairperson Gonzaco Rebello, freedom fighters, government officials and citizens attended the function.
On the Regional Plan, the minister pledged and affirmed his government’s reassure seriousness and commitment to put the RP in place at the earliest, even as he pointed to the House Committee that has been set up to look into the modalities and invite suggestions on the plan.
He also sought to reassure people down south that it will address pending demand for a new bridge over river Zuari, by promising to lay the foundation stone for the new bridge on January 26, 2015.
Asserting that the much required construction of a new bridge across Zuari river will be taken up by his government, Avertano said “a suitable site will be selected from the three shortlisted ones by the consultant.” He called upon the people to extend their helping hand to the efforts of the government to strengthen the democratic set up in the state so that the benefits of independence reach the people in its real sense.
“Let us re-dedicate ourselves to strengthen the pillars of democracy, secularism and communal harmony. Through our collective resolve and endeavour, we can take our state and country to greater heights of progress and development”, he added.
The minister said the government has promised to provide all logistic support to the
forthcoming Exposition of St Francis Xavier scheduled from November 22, 2014 to January 4, 2015. “Accommodation to thousands of pilgrims from across the globe,
traffic management, security cover, proper sanitation etc., is all being looked
after and taken care of by the government”, he said in his
address.
