PANJIM: The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday demanded that the State government should provide compensation in a time-bound and transparent manner for the damages caused by Cyclone Tauktae.
Stating that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has failed to understand the suffering of the people of Goa first due to COVID pandemic, then due to the lockdown, and now due to the cyclone, State Convenor Rahul Mhambre said that the government must act fast on providing relief.
“He is quick to spend Rs 3 crore on a two-hour programme under the pretext of 60th Liberation Day. He has no hesitation to sanction Rs 50 crore without due process for renovation of Kala Academy despite the opposition from architects. But he has failed to provide even a rupee of compensation to those who have lost loved ones to COVID, or to those who have lost their income due to lockdown, or to those who have lost houses and crops to Cyclone Tauktae,” Mhambre said.
Stating that only announcements have been made about the damage due to the cyclone, Mhambre raised questions on the Chief Minister’s widely varying statements.
“Initially he said the damages were to the tune of 22 crore. Then, it was increased it to 40 crore. Then the very next day, the figure suddenly reached 146 crore. This is not the first time Goa has been hit by storms and floods. Assessing the damage accurately and immediately is also part of disaster management preparedness, which this government has failed at miserably,” said Mhambre.
