A slew of opposition MLAs and an MP, all on the same day, pointed out to failures of the government in various areas. The issues raked up were varied. They included water and power supply, garbage, casinos, dengue, potholes, mining, CZMP, and then there were others too. These are all major issues affecting the people and, while it comes from the opposition that is meant to keep track of the government’s performance, the criticism is valid. Governance in Goa is not at its best, it does need improvement.
South Goa Congress MP Francisco Sardinha brought up the restrictions on buildings within a 20 km radius of the airport that the Navy has recommended, seeking a dialogue between the Navy and the government on this. But among the other issues he raised was the spread of dengue. He also alleged that sand extraction hasn’t stopped and that corrupt officials continue to make money out of this, and criticised the government for only voicing out assurances on potholes, while doing nothing to fill them up, and flayed the government for its handling of the CZMP issue. On mining, the MP said he has taken up the matter with the Centre.
Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco of the Congress reminded the Chief Minister of the assurance made by former Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar about establishing a Gaming Commission in the State by December 2018 and that the offshore casino vessels would be shifted from River Mandovi is a phased manner. He pointed out that neither of the assurances have been complied with and that the entry of Goans into casinos has also not been banned.
Others who took on the government, were former allies, who had been part of the ruling dispensation until three months ago. Former Dy CM Chief Vijai Sardesai, of the Goa Forward Party, picked on Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo on the garbage issue and sought a quick and effective solution to avoid garbage being strewn on to the road. On the other hand, Porvorim Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte highlighted that the government was unable to provide the people with adequate and potable water, electricity and roads. On the water scarcity, he put forth a valid point as to despite receiving rainfall that was much over the average this year, it is not stored properly and the rain water is allowed to flow into the sea. He wondered, and rightly, that if this is the situation now what would it be in the summer.
It almost gives the impression that the government has descended into a non-performing mode, where nothing is happening. Frankly, two of these MLAs were part of the government at this time last year, when it had actually gone into a hiatus and there had been no governance visible. This is not to say that today we have a government that is doing wonderfully well. The condition of the roads is a painfully visible example of the government’s lack of planning. All that is required, as Sardinha has advised the government, is for it to open its eyes to the issues and find resolutions instead of giving deadlines.
In the seven months that this government has taken over, there have been many changes in its composition, with MLAs added to the ruling dispensation and cabinet reshuffled. It, however, does have a long way to go to prove that it is indeed making a difference to the State. There are problems galore, and they need solutions. The people are tired of being told that it will be done. They want it done. If the government can be quick to act in reducing the road tax on new vehicles by 50 per cent to help the automobile dealers in the State, why can’t it also be quick to repair the roads?
