Asserts Parrikar-headed TCP owes an explanation
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Asserting that the government is out to make deputy town planner a scapegoat vis-a-vis the collapse of Ruby residency at Canacona, Goa Vikas Party supremo Mickky Pacheco on Wednesday demanded resignation of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who also holds the Town and Country Planning portfolio in the wake of the Canacona building tragedy.
“The Chief Minister cannot escape his responsibility since he is presiding over the TCP portfolio. He cannot point accusing fingers at the deputy town planner when suspicions are raised that his department did nothing to stop the illegalities during construction of the building”, Mickky said.
He further said the Parrikar-headed TCP owes an explanation to the people how such a huge project has been approved by throwing rules to the winds. “Questions are also raised about the TCP connivance in the entire episode since a minister in the Parrikar cabinet, Ramesh Tawadkar, is putting up in one of the buildings. There ought to be an inquiry into the entire gamut of issues. A free and fair inquiry cannot take place with Parrikar at the helm of affairs. The Chief Minister should own responsibility for the tragedy and step down on moral grounds”, Mickky demanded.
The Nuvem MLA came down heavily on the Parrikar administration for the inordinate delay in recovering the bodies lying under the rubble. “Is this the way the administration is supposed to function? Most of the workers working in the building and who are dead may be hailing from outside the state, but the administration should have been on their toes to rescue them or save them. Finally, they are all human beings”, he said.
Mickky recalled that the government had given permission for a night club to operate in a farm house, while pointing out that Chief Minister feigns ignorance of incidents taking place right under his nose.
