Says it is aimed at helping hotels in Maharashtra
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Terming the construction of the Keri-Tiracol River modeled on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a scam, the Congress lambasted the government saying it was aimed at helping hotel giants based in Maharashtra.
Congress Legislative Party (CLP) spokesman Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday said that the party opposes the project because it will also facilitate the controversial golf project there. “We are opposing the construction of the bridge because it will destroy the interest of the State,” he said.
“This project will accrue revenue to Maharashtra on infrastructure created by Goa, that is, golf course, electricity, through the so called Sydney Harbour style bridge which in turn will link to SEZ and Mopa land grabbers.”
He alleged the bridge is a scam masterminded by the Manohar Parrikar government, which will affect 35-40 families. “The government is hurrying to complete such projects by ignoring basic issues like delay in distributing text books to students, raincoats, uniforms and tablets as promised in the last budget,” he stated.
The steel arched bridge is expected to have its foundation stone laid by Independence Day August 15, 2013.
According to a news report in a national daily’s local edition, ‘the bridge will connect to the mainland, the lone Goan village of Tiracol, so far isolated due to the Tiracol river. Besides making access to the historic Tiracol fort easier, it will also make commuting to Vengurla and the pristine beaches of that part of Maharashtra, much easier’.
When reminded that the project was given a go-ahead by Congress-led government, Reginaldo defended the move saying the ruling coalition revised the project to make it worse.
“It was a small project approved by the Congress…We thought it would not be given but the present government revised and approved it on a massive scale…However, if the locals have a problem, it has to be opposed,” he said. he party has meanwhile congratulated newly appointed Goa desk-incharge Digvijay Singh, MP Shantaram Naik who will assist Singh, Luizinho Faleiro who is the first Goan to be appointed as general secretary AICC and youth leader Girish Chodankar who has been appointed to assist AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi for party work.
