Team Herald

MARGAO: Nationalist Congress Party MLA Churchill Alemao praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to visit Portugal and in the same breath took a dig at the “pseudo nationalists” who protested against the Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa’s visit to Goa earlier this year.

Churchill vent his ire at those opposing the Portuguese Prime Minister’s visit to Goa and recalled how some BJP supporters had sought to purify the Mormugao Port after a Portuguese ship had anchored there and wondered how they would react to Modi hugging Costa.

The Benaulim MLA also praised the Portuguese for all the good they did to Goa and India.

Meanwhile, in a bid to spruce up things in Benaulim constituency, the local MLA Churchill Alemao has exhorted panchayats to prepare a list of development works that would subsequently be handed over to the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who according to him has promised all assistance.

According to the Benaulim MLA, the Chief Minister has also promised to complete the long-pending Sinquetim Bridge, where work has been initiated.

Comparing the merits of the Telaulim Bridge he quipped that its completion was benefitting all, including students who have benefitted due to the  easy access, resulting in filling up seats in Navelim College.

The Benaulim MLA claimed that all panchayats in his constituency, with the exception of Carmona were with him. “My panels won everywhere, but yes there were some problems over who should be the sarpanch,” he said, adding that Carmona panchayat had gone the AAP way.

He also reached out to the Cavelossim panchayat body, including the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch to assist develop a dry dock in the village, which will also help the panchayat earn revenue and serve as a mooring point for local boats.

Assuring Cavelossim Sarpanch Dionisio Dias on the vexed issue of Coastal Zone Management Committee’s NOC without consulting the panchayat, Churchill emphasised that the matter had been discussed and a solution was on the anvil.

The issue of illegal underground power connection, via cables by certain Cavelossim residents was also raised by irate panchayat members, who were assured by the MLA, stating he would delegate an electricity department engineer to look into the discrepancies.

Churchill assured the panchayat members that the Power Minister had been impressed upon to tackle all power-related matters and not leave it for other departments like tourism, while pointing out that a high mast light lay unrepaired due to the paucity of Tourism Department funds.