Congress criticises 'frustrated' MGP for opposing guest house, other projects

PONDA:  Reacting strongly to the opposition raised by MGP over the proposed guest house project and other development projects, Congress tore into the regional party on Thursday, accusing them of being ‘frustrated after losing power’. 

Congress challenged MGP to show at least one development project, brought in by MGP leader and former PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar in the last twenty years. They pointed out that Congress’s Ponda MLA Ravi Naik has been credited with several works, which are visible everywhere. 

On Thursday, Congress Ponda Block president Arun Gudekar along with former Chairperson Kishore Naik, Curti Khandepar Sarpanch Dadi Naik and other office bearers, expressed concern about ‘MGP obstructing development’ in Ponda and questioned what Dhavalikar had done during his tenure and what stopped him from bringing in projects. 

They added that the guest house project construction began in 2011 when Naik, who was the then Animal Husbandry Minster, had sanctioned Rs 4 crore for it. They further referred to the recent visit of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who had sanctioned Rs 1.3 crore for the completion of the project – due to which; they opined that MGP is opposing the project. 

They also questioned the locus standi of MGP leader Ketan Bhatikar for speaking about development in Ponda when Bhatikar had failed to make any contribution for the same. 

Bhatikar had earlier opposed the under- construction guest house project. 

Guduker then referred to the Ponda Sub District Hospital and criticised Dhavalikar for failing to meet the demands of the public during his tenure regarding upgrading the hospital and providing it with doctors and infrastructure like a CT Scan unit. He then added that it was because of Naik that the hospital is not lacking primary medical facilities, following which patients are getting their surgeries and other medical treatment done at Ponda itself. 

Councillor Anand Naik criticised the status of sewerage plant work in Ponda, which he said has been implemented in an unplanned manner, due to which the roads are in an non-motorable condition.  He also blamed Dhavalikar for the faulty flyovers, which they said have become accident-prone zones in Ponda. 

Congress members then praised Naik for conducting all-round development works in Ponda and referred to the various workers completed by the local MLA.