Alarm bells over corruption

PANJIM, FEB 1
Corruption is the buzz word during this Assembly session and members from both Ruling and Opposition are not leaving any opportunity to pin down the Government on the subject, which has been linked to the present Congress dispensation.
On Tuesday, corruption which had taken deep roots in illegal mining, environmental degradation, law and order problem, drug nexus, PPP model in the health sector, PWD functioning, etc., came up during discussion on motion of thanks of the Governor. 
At the forefront was Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar who sought clarity in Government functioning and called for declaring war on the narcotics trade in the State and questioned the Government whether it could do the same.  
Narvekar in a very satirical manner ridiculed the public private participation initiative calling it a new political economy as quoted from a book of a famous author — excerpts of which he read out in the House. 
Pointing out to the sad state of primary health centres, he stressed upon a policy decision on running of hospitals and PPP and at the same time called for holding back PPP for one year till the next Government was elected.
Continuing his tirade against mining, Narvekar demanded no licenses should be issued to new mines and called for de-silting of rivers by bringing in a special programme. If in this way the Government was trying to move in the mining sector, Goans will one day become endangered species, he warned.
Asserting corruption had reached alarming levels in the State, Narvekar pointed to the chairs ahead of him in the House attributing major chunk of corruption from ‘allah’ (indicating towards Churchill Alemao’s PWD department) and ‘subhan allah’ (Vishwajeet Rane for Health). Both Alemao and Vishwajeet were not in their seats when Narvekar was speaking.
With the way things are going, Narvekar asserted, there is a need for an Accountability and Responsibility Bill.
He said in Goa’s 50th year the Government could have held a special session to take up only positive things. Nothing is lost and the same can be held at the end of 2011 where members could take up projections for the next 25 years, he suggested.  
BJP MLA Damu Naik said the Governor’s address, which was prepared giving a rosy picture of the State, had no mention of law and order problem, crimes against tourists, drug nexus, illegal mining, reduction in agriculture, uncontrolled prices, etc.
Naik said this Government will finish the State because corruption had exceeded its limits. PWD contractors are complaining they have to give 15 per cent commission or else nothing moves for them, he charged.