SATURDAY, MAY 04, 2024
Team Herald
BICHOLIM: Highlighting the importance of water for Goa’s consumers, INDIA Bloc’s North Goa Lok Sabha candidate Adv Ramakant Khalap of the Congress Party has called for a probe into the utilisation of funds for the Tillari water project. Khalap was speaking during a corner meeting held at Madhlawada, Bicholim on Monday.
“I know the issues faced by locals in each village. People tell me there is no water for schools, no water for agriculture, no water for drinking. I was instrumental in getting the Tillari irrigation project restarted. After I stepped out of the cabinet, the work stopped. We had raised Rs 150 crore, and another Rs 100 crore were sanctioned by the Centre after my efforts. Where did that money go? There needs to be an investigation. We need to get details from the Legislative Assembly on this issue,” pointed out Khalap.
Congress party’s coordinator for the North Goa Parliamentary seat, Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira and other party workers were present. Khalap also hit out at incumbent MP Shripad Naik for not doing enough in enhancing water supply.
“Naik once held the water resources portfolio. But he couldn’t restart the Tillari irrigation project work. On the contrary, Karnataka took away our Mhadei water. He didn’t even once raise his voice. He was also given independent charge of the culture and Tourism department, yet I saw during my visit to Calangute, there is filth and lack of necessary infrastructure for tourists,” he said.
In his address, Adv Ferreira said, “We say government of people, for the people and by the people. But here it is the government against the people. They are using government machinery to suppress the voices against the dispensation. We have chosen a good candidate in the form of Adv Ramakant Khalap, because he is respected and well-known”.
