However, Dhavalikar reacted badly after a comment by one of the legislators on bikinis, telling him that he should go home and ask his family if they agree with him or not. Normally a cool customer, Dhavalikar was literally frothing at the mouth over the issue that has received a lot of flak from all and sundry though the chief minister has kept a studious distance from the issue, neither attacking or supporting him.
Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate and her husband the St Cruz constituency MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ launched a scathing attack on the minister alleging that the PWD was totally non functional arguing that there was a lack of supervision by his engineers.
“Please remove this portfolio from him. Please give him the art and culture portfolio. He is more involved in Culture,” Babush argued, alleging that department’s engineers were not supervising with even one junior engineer telling him that he cannot move around in absence of a vehicle.
He rose in support of Jennifer who wanted to know the time frame for the completion of the ongoing sewerage work. She also alleged the roads closed last year were still in a bad shape as they were not tarred. “There are no roads in some places in Taleigao,” she told the House. At this, the chief minister intervened agreeing that he too had to suffer because of bad roads but did not want to complain. “There is total neglect by the engineers. I will personally look into this,” he said.
Jennifer had asked the PWD minister about the date by which the laying of sewerage lines will commence for villages of Odxel, Oitalem, Nagali, Santissmo, Nairallem, Eugene Morod, Padri Bhatt upto Goa University in Taleigao constituency.
BJP legislator Dr Pramod Sawant also took the opportunity to attack the PWD minister alleging that non plan works were large and that many engineers were at one posting for several years. “The non plan work is also too much. So I want the minister to inquire into this and submit a report,” Sawant argued.
