TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CALANGUTE: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar inaugurated the much delayed beautification project, Calangute Beach Promenade, on Monday.
Parrikar inaugurated the Calangute Beach Promenade in the presence of Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, WRD Minister Dayanand Mandrekar, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Arpora-Nagoa Sarpanch Sushma Nagvekar, Parra Sarpanch Delilah Lobo, Calangute ZP member Abeline Menezes, panchas of Arpora-Nagoa, Parra and Candolim. However, panch Joseph Sequeira along with his team, Calangute Sarpanch Geeta Porob and panchayat members boycotted the function as they were not invited.
The beautification project ‘Calangute Beach Promenade’ had earlier missed many deadlines including December 19, December 25 and January 26.
Speaking at the inaugural function, Parrikar said, “I am very much pleased with the beautification project of Calangute Beach Promenade along with toilets and changing facilities at the beach, but it should be well maintained by GTDC. Any project carried out should be of good quality which will sustain with proper maintenance. I request everyone to use the facility in a better way.”
Terming the project as historic, Lobo said, “Calangute Beach was neglected by the previous government, but the BJP government laid the foundation stone within 3 months of coming to power and carried out lot of developments in Calangute constituency like the Baga toilets, road widening and now Calangute Beach Promenade.”
Lobo said he takes everyone including the Calangute Panchayat into confidence over development, but will not appreciate anyone being hurt in the name of development. He asserted that he has never stopped a planned and sustainable development of the Calangute Panchayat.
Speaking to Herald, Joseph Sequeira said, “I do not understand the logic in putting the name of the Calangute sarpanch and the members in the advertisement in a local daily or in the name plaque when we the Calangute Panchayat members along with the sarpanch were not even taken into confidence over the inaugural event.”
“Though the Calangute Beach project was initiated by the Calangute Panchayat, the Tourism Department surprisingly ignored the local body. We are however happy that the beautification project will finally be available for the tourists and public at large,” he said.
Tourism Minister Parulekar, WRD Minister Mandrekar, MLA Nilesh Cabral and Abeline Menezes also addressed the gathering.
