Team Herald
MAPUSA: Irked over the PWD move to lock the Science Park, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte on Wednesday said the department has no right to lock the property and added that the Penha de Franca panchayat would file a case against the department and break the lock to get access to its property.
He made this statement during his visit to the park and expressed shock to find the premises locked.
Khaunte said, “The property belongs to the Penha de Franca panchayat and the department has no right to lock the property and in this regard, panchayat will file a case against PWD and will break the lock and get access to the property”.
It is pertinent to note that the Science Park conceived by former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar was locked by PWD when actually the property is owned by Penha de Franca Panchayat after the executive engineer gave instructions to stop the ongoing work and lock the site.
Khaunte said, “A case will be filed against the EE for taking such a step. Science Park was conceived by Manohar Parrikar to give a realistic feeling on science. This was a proto model and was supposed to take such projects throughout Goa. This proposal was split between PWD and Science and Technology. The work is like landscaping is pending and furniture is yet to be installed.”
“Several parents had approached asking me to open the park and after discussions with the panchayat we had decided to provide Wi-Fi facility here so that the students can answer the exam smoothly,” Khaunte said.
“When I came to know that the park is locked, I was told that this park is closed because the chief minister fears that I would open the park on my birthday on February 25. How can PWD lock the infrastructure which belongs to the panchayat? We wanted to start this facility because of an examination. We don’t believe in inauguration, we believe in starting the project,” he said.
The MLA said, “The government has taken the politics to the lowest level by stopping people from taking benefit of the project. If the lock is not opened by tomorrow morning, the locals will break it open by evening and without waiting for the inauguration, the facility will be used”.