Team Herald
MARGAO: Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias this morning held a meeting with different government officials looking after various departments in his constituency where a lot of drawbacks and lackadaisical attitude among the officials was exposed and attempts to play the blame game was also exposed.
The Public Works Department admitted that there was some confusion over the State Highway No 8 and that the same as identified now was not in keeping with the Gazette Notification of 1977.
However, the officials suggested that a representation be addressed to them over the matter and they in turn would get a clarification from the government as soon as possible.
The Water Resources Department was hauled up for a many misdeeds with regards to water supply in the two canals passing through the constituency. Inspections after Easter were fixed to understand the problems with the Selaulim Canal as well as the Paroda Canal.
At Panzorconni somebody was trying to block the Selaulim canal access with barbed wire informed one person and the same would be inspected. So also the need to increase the pipes for the canal at Ambaulim would be inspected.
As for the Paroda canal, it was pointed out that the water is always released late thereby depriving the farmers of having three crops, which was the main aim of the canal. Paroda Sarpanch Deepak Kharangate said that the cleaning of the canal was done well earlier when the PWD would do it however, since the work is given to contractors for the last 15 years, it has been done badly.
As it was pointed out that many trees have grown along the canal affecting the flow of the water, it was decided to inspect the same after Easter. The Water Resources Department’s attempt to make the panchayats responsible for dirt in the canals was also decried.
The Electricity Department was told to provide good quality bulbs as there were allegations that the LED bulbs rejected by the Maharashtra Government were dumped in Goa. The Electricity Department officials were told to ensure the phones are not kept off the hook to avoid attending to people’s calls particularly during a power failure.
SAG officials present were asked to ensure that the families from Paroda who were to be given alternate land for their house construction are given the same immediately so that they do not suffer during the monsoons again.
Going by the volume of issues involved, Clafacio said he would have a similar meeting with the officials at every panchayat and the municipal council so that problems of each area can be addressed.
The MLA said that though he was in the opposition, development of the constituency will not be affected and revealed that he had already discussed this matter with the Chief Minister who had assured him that development of Cuncolim will not be hampered.
He appealed to government officials not to be too slow and said he would like to be his predecessor and not trouble the government officials so long as they did not give him reason to stir up trouble for them.
