Team Herald

PANJIM: With Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar clearing the air on the river nationalisation project, responding to concerns raised by activists and MLAs, the opposition Congress, whose one leader stayed mum and another supported the project, could find it tough to corner the government in the House on the contentious issue. 

The short, four-day Winter Session of the State Legislative Assembly will commence from Wednesday, which incidentally is the Chief Minister’s birthday, and conclude on December 18. 

Ministers will answer 703 questions and there will be four government bills introduced during the session, apart from private members bills and resolutions and calling attention motions. One Bill each of Revenue Department (amendment to the Land Revenue Code) and Cooperation Department (agriculture produce), and two of the Town and Country Planning Department pertaining to amendment of Infrastructure Tax to single dwelling units and TCP Act on orchard land will be also introduced.

There are 461 unstarred and 242 starred questions, which will be tabled during the four-day session. The opposition benches have placed a calling attention on the river nationalisation and coal expansion projects, and are gearing up to demand a discussion on the matter.

Considering that of the 16 Congress MLAs just three attended the draft MoU presentation on national waterways project, floor management within the party on the issue would be interesting to see. Of the three who attended the meet, Ravi Naik was the only MLA who protested the move, while Leader of the Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar remained mum and senior leader Pratapsingh Rane approved the MoU. 

Apart from these two issues, constitution of the planning and development authoritys (PDAs) is another issue expected to be debated. However, here too, Congress is on the back foot with two of its MLAs – Tony Fernandes (St Cruz) and Francis Silveria (St Andre) – proposing that areas from their constituencies be brought under the PDA.

While the Congress, suffering from coordination problems, is struggling to make strong ground to corner the government, the coalition led by the BJP is geared up to counter opposition. The Chief Minister had instructed Ministers to do a thorough homework of their portfolios and told BJP MLAs to be prepared to neutralise the opposition. 

Non sanctions of new applications under various social welfare schemes, failure to undertake developmental works, are other issues that could be brought up in the House.