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CALANGUTE: In a bid to appease families affected by a halt in mining activities in the State, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar stated that those families who own one to two trucks would be provided with an annual benefit of Rs 50,000 per family.
Parrikar was speaking after inaugurating the developmental works in Parra on Sunday in the presence of Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Parra Sarpanch Delilah Lobo and others.
Parrikar assured to beautify his own village and entire State with the co-operation of the people.
“Time and again, the issue of the closure of mines is being raised. I will provide relief to the mining affected families owning one to two trucks by giving a yearly benefit of Rs 50,000 per family,” assured Parrikar, adding that truck-related loans from various banks would be shifted to the Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
On criticism that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not have sufficient funds to sustain the Griha Aadhaar and Laadli Laxmi scheme, Parrikar said: “People shouldn’t worry about how the BJP government will generate funds to run or provide relief to the people through various schemes. God has given me talent and I will make the best of it to generate revenue to run the government,” said Parrikar.
Claiming that people had been approaching him to get their agriculture lands converted, Parrikar insisted that he would not accede to their requests until the Agricultural Land Legislation Bill is ready.
“However, we will have to do something to stop concretization of villages, which has been witnessed over the years now,” he added.
In his speech, Parulekar expressed gratitude to the landlady, Maria Souza D’Costa, for donating her land towards road-widening work.
Lobo said the Citizens Forum of Parra had come together to develop Parra and their plans include road widening, footpath, playground, volleyball court, community hall, ladies re-creational hall, bus stops and to ease traffic congestion.
“A proper and planned development is the need of the hour and we will go forward step-by-step to develop the village,” he said.
Joseph Sequeira and Marie Souza D’Costa also spoke while Pradeep Morajkar compered. Parra Parish Priest Fr Roland Carvalho was also present.
