PANJIM: On the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, his successor Pramod Sawant pledged support to make ‘Golden Goa’, the dream that the former lived for. The State government on Friday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 8.5 crore ‘Manohar Parrikar Smriti Sthal (memorial)’ at Miramar, which would be an interactive public space housing library, a meditation hall and souvenir shop.
Parrikar’s family members, cabinet Ministers, MLA, Panjim BJP workers, bureaucrats and others were present for the event.
Addressing the gathering, Sawant said the biggest tribute, Goans can pay to Parrikar would be by following his ideology and dreams. “For ‘bhai’, Goa was his top priority. Goa was everything for him. And to make this Goa, a ‘Golden Goa’, I need support from each one of you,” he said.
Sawant added that he will complete nine months in office on December 19. “Not a single day has passed without remembering ‘bhai’. I am thankful to the people for giving me an opportunity to be his successor,” he said.
He added that Parrikar, whose works speaks all about him, had already laid the foundation for various infrastructure projects for the State keeping in mid next 25 years. “Be it the third Mandovi Bridge, second Zuari Bridge, Mopa International Airport or National Highways expansion. He planned and executed. For next 25 years, State will have all required infrastructure in place,” he stated.
“When the third Mandovi Bridge was proposed, everyone was talking including us, whether there is really a need for this bridge. But ‘bhai’ said…wait and see when the bridge comes,” Sawant said adding that today the bridge not only has become an added attraction to the State but it has also reduced complete traffic congestion.
The memorial has been constructed at the site on Miramar beach, where the last rites of the former Union Defence Minister were performed, adjacent to the memorial of Goa’s first CM Dayanand Bandodkar.
Mumbai-based firm UCJ Architectural and Environment will be constructing the memorial.
