Team Herald
PANJIM: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza indirectly criticised NGOs for opposing development projects.
Parsekar said that presently there is a trend in Goa to oppose anything and everything just for the sake of it. “The Solid Waste Management plant was opposed, they are also opposing the third Mandovi bridge and likewise the Tiracol bridge is also being opposed,” he said. NGO Goa Foundation had raised questions on the SWM plant and also filed a case in the National Green Tribunal over destruction of mangroves for construction of the third Mandovi bridge.
Parsekar questioned the motive of the people opposing the project and wondered who is supporting them. “These are non-Goans who are trying to tell Goans what is good for them,” Parsekar said, adding, “I know these people don’t even know what science is and they speak about science.”
D’Souza also attacked the NGOs asking for the reason for the opposition to projects which are in public interest.
“It is high time the people of Goa decide what they want. Do they want development or are these people going to court for their vested interests,” he said.
Parrikar, though critical of the people going to courts opposing projects, said that sometimes this works to an advantage. “When someone opposes something the advantage is that it gives perfection to the project,” he said on a lighter note but questioned the motive behind opposing every project.
