26 Sep 2021  |   05:21am IST

Panchayat Minister hails State, Centre for allotting Rs 140 cr to local bodies

Team Herald

VASCO: Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho on Saturday hailed the BJP State and Central government for allotting Rs 140 crore to 60 village panchayats under Swachh Bharat Mission and Rs 75 crore under Panchayat’s Fifteenth Finance Fund.

Addressing the gathering during the launch of South Goa Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin II) at Chicalim Panchayat Godinho said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has in a way created a revolution in the country by carrying out a cleanliness campaign on his own. The ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ has been implemented in rural areas to bring cleanliness and has also brought justice to the common man. Around 60 panchayats in Goa have received Rs 140 crore from Swachh Bharat Mission Rural Part II and another Rs 75 crore from the Panchayat’s Fifteenth Finance Fund.” 

The Panchayat Minister said, “The Central government has an important role to play in this along with the State government.”

When asked about Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) entering Goa, Godinho said that BJP has got the track record of undertaking development and performance. BJP has also given various schemes to all sections and age groups whereas other political parties are just making tall claims. “Everyone is welcome, they (political parties) will promise the moon, but are people going to believe them,” he questioned.

On bad condition of roads, the Minister replied that every MLA is concerned about making good roads in his constituency. We have been giving representations and doing follow up on the bad roads with the PWD Minister. 

Godinho assured that in the month of November the road works will start and by December all these works will be completed. For work to start the rains should stop completely.

He also commented on the taxi meter issue. Godinho said that the taxi owners will have to pay the amount to install a taxi meter and then they will have to fill a form. After this, within two days, the money will be credited into their accounts. One must understand that the Transport Department cannot break the financial rules. Taxi meters cannot be given free of cost as it is against the financial rules.