PONDA: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant declared the creation of a third district for Goa within a year which will include Dharbandora, Ponda and other surrounding talukas.
Sawant disclosed this while speaking after inaugurating the ground plus four storey of the Dharbandora Taluka Administrative office Complex constructed at a cost of around Rs 23 crore.
He said this is needed for the convenience of people and smooth development and creation of infrastructure for the growing population and their demands.
He also said the four-lane work of the NH from Belgaum to Mollem will be completed within a year. He also promised a truck terminus at Dharbandora as trucks were parked on the road leading to fatal accidents.
The chief minister also assured a bus stand and basic infrastructure and blamed NGOs for halting the development work of Mopa, mining, sand mining, bridges and appealed to the Goans to question the NGOs for halting development works.
On the Sanjeevani sugar factory issue the chief minister said the sugarcane farmers association had submitted a memorandum that they want the sugar factory operated and in case the Government closes it then the Government should give them a five-year settlement plan.
He said the government has not taken any decision on the closure. But in case it is closed then another project will be brought which will provide opportunities and benefit to farmers and locals around Sanjeevani sugar factory land.
“We have not taken any decision on closure of Sanjeevani but asked farmers to cultivate the sugarcane with a promise to buy it with an assured rate for next season,” Sawant said.
Dharbandora Panchayat Deputy Sarpanch Balaji Gawas claimed the Administrative building which was inaugurated on Friday is standing on a land owned by the Panchayat and demanded space for a Panchayat office. “We were promised space for the Panchayat Office and library at the time of laying the foundation stone few years ago, hence the chief minister should fulfil our demand”, he said.
The chief minister assured to look into the promise.
