Team Herald
MARGAO: Asserting that the BJP government would transform Goa into a beautiful place within the next two years, Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho slammed the activists and NGOs for opposing all development works. He announced schemes for the panchayat including common cadre for its staff.
“I can understand opposition to something wrong that is being done. These NGOs and activists want to oppose and object to even the good that is happening, proving that they do not want Goa to develop,” he charged.
He said the third bridge over River Mandovi, second bridge over River Zuari, the Mopa airport and road widening, which are currently underway, will change Goa into a beautiful land and bring about better connectivity. He said the third Mandovi bridge was being constructed to improve connectivity to Mopa Airport.
He said Goans will no longer have to go abroad for jobs but will get well-paid jobs in Goa.
and lamented that the NGOs and activists were keen on misleading Goans and hampering the work.
Disclosing that five other panchayat ghars are under construction and likely to be commissioned within the next two months, the minister said he was glad that the target set for one panchayat ghar a year will be achieved by his department.
“We have also finalised some more schemes to help the panchayats but they are held up only because the Chief Minister is not here,” he said disclosing that the labour unions’ approval for a common cadre for panchayat staff was obtained and now the file would be sent to the Legal Department.
He said the common cadre will give respect and control to the elected panchayat members, who very often operate at the mercy of the staff, who could not be transferred and virtually controlled the panchayat.
Besides, he said the grant to construct a panchayat ghar under the Deendayal Panchayat Raj Infrastructure Development Scheme has been raised from Rs. 2.5 crore to 3.5 crore but the same is stalled because of the chief minister’s absence.
He pointed out that the government has increased grants to panchayat for garbage management and has created three categories under which all the panchayats in Goa will get either Rs 5 lakh or Rs 7 lakh or Rs. 9 lakh.
