Elements are spreading negativity about govt: CM

Team Herald

PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said that some elements in society are unnecessarily trying to spread negativity about the government.

“When the BJP-led governments come to power, some elements in society cannot take it and try to find ways to change views on a particular issue. Such elements are not bothered about development. Currently they have got the issue of coal. We have clearly said that our government did not allow expansion of coal, so after this what is left?” Parrikar asked, while addressing the gathering the inaugurating the new bridge over Ourem Creek.

“Yesterday someone asked me whether coal will be transported through River Sal? Is this a toy wherein coal can just be put on barges and made to move? If coal is to be transported via a particular river then there should be facilities. The transportation of coal is not a new subject, it has almost been 20 years coal is being transported from River Mandovi. It’s time to reply and I will reply in the Assembly on December 15,” Parrikar said.

He further said that there are numerous attempts to deflect the agenda of the government which is in the interest of the State.

“These elements want to deflect the agenda of the government which is for the betterment of the State and there are multiple attempts to do this. First they got the issue of drugs and now no one is speaking on this issue as a result of 150 arrests made in the last 110 days. After the crackdown, the issue of drugs slowly started dying then they got the issue of prostitution stating that some websites are operating but soon this issue also started dying as crackdown began,” he said.

Speaking on the rivers, the Chief Minister said the government cannot be the owners of rivers. “During Congress government there was nationalisation of banks, similarly insurance companies were taken and Air India was taken from Tata, now this is all nationalisation because the government becomes the owners but what about the rivers? Government cannot be the owners of rivers,” Parrikar said.

He added that during the recent presentation he showed the current status of the rivers of Goa and it’s shameful that River Mandovi is the cleanest among all six rivers in the State.