Team Herald
PANJIM: In what can hasten the pace of developmental works across the State, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday in-principle sanctioned Rs 25 crore for each constituency represented by the ruling MLAs with the rider that priority should be given to construct roads. The amount has been sanctioned for the current financial year ending March 2018.
Parrikar on Tuesday morning held a review meeting with the MLAs from North Goa, wherein the delay on the part of Public Works Department (PWD) to take up works, despite submission of proposal along with estimates, was brought to his notice. The Chief Minister will hold a separate meeting with the opposition MLAs soon.
Speaking to Herald, Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza confirmed the sanction of Rs 25 crore for each constituency and said, “In the first phase, Rs 15 crore will be released immediately by December, while the balance Rs 10 crore will be provided at a later stage. The amount has to be spent for undertaking developmental works through PWD by March 31, 2018.”
D’Souza, who was absent from the meeting, said his personal secretary had represented him at the meeting.
The Minister lamented that due to a series of election codes of conduct, from January to August, development had come to a partial halt. “Not many works were tendered this year. Also, PWD was not very keen to take up works proposed by MLAs, due to lack of funds,” he said. “The issue was raised before the Chief Minister today and accordingly, a specific amount was sanctioned to each MLA,” he added.
The first code of conduct for the Assembly elections was from January 4 to March 11, followed by the code for the Panchayat elections in June and than in July-August due to by-elections in Panjim and Valpoi.
