TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Indicating his desire to push for the Shiroda-Rachol bridge, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said the foundation stone for the controversial bridge will be laid at Rachol after the Old Goa feast.
However in a bid to appease the agitating residents of Rachol and Raia, Parrikar assured that he would convene a meeting with those people objecting to the proposed bridge.
Parrikar was speaking at a function after inaugurating the programme ‘Administration at your doorstep’ in Shiroda.
“The proposed Rachol-Shiroda bridge will be constructed taking into confidence all the people and the foundation stone will be laid at Rachol after the concluding ceremony of Saint Francis Xavier feast in Old Goa,” said Parrikar.
“The bridge will be constructed for public benefit. But before going ahead with the foundation stone, I will arrange a meeting with those who are objecting to the proposed bridge,” he added.
Commenting on the Mopa airport controversy, Parrikar reiterated that the proposed Mopa airport would meet the growing requirement of tourism in future. “At present, Dabolim is falling short on increasing landing facilities for civilian aircraft,” said the chief minister.
The chief minister also defended the recent amendment to the Agriculture Tenancy Act, claiming that the amendment was necessitated by increasing number of pending tenant cases.
“These cases are forwarded to civil court and it is to give justice to the tenants which they are entitled to under this act. Some people are unnecessarily creating opposition,’ he said.
