Govt bent on selling Goa, says Parrikar
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, JAN 28
Claiming that people are not against the proposed national highway but against the present alignment, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar accused the State government of being “bent on selling Goa at wholesale rates.”
Parrikar was speaking at a meeting convened by National Highway Diversion Action committee (NHDAC) at Mapusa Taxi stand on Friday evening.
“Development does not mean demolition of houses, churches and temples, but it should be done after taking the people into confidence. The existence alignment if modified, then there will not be any objections from the people for the highway,” stated Parrikar.
“But the State government is not prepared to accept the suggestions of the people, but is bent to sell Goa at wholesale rate,” charged Parrikar.
Parrikar further stated that the PWD minister is not in a position to solve the water problems of the people, as people are still starving for potable water.
“Heavy vehicles still cannot ply on the Zuari Bridge. Further, the government cannot start the District Hospital at Mapusa though it was completed 3 years ago. Government has proved its incompetence practically in every field of activity,” claimed Parrikar.
“Such an incompetent government should not make haste in giving its consent to the national highway project without studying and discussing the matter with the people. The existing NH-17 and 4 are not the highways in real sense of the term,” he said.
“They are in fact the state ways connecting the two towns and villages. Hence, the government should give serious thought to the issue and decide about the highway after taking the views of the people into consideration,” added Parrikar.
Christopher Fonseca said Goa is being used as a corridor for the construction of National Highway.
“Goa is neither the starting point nor the destination. The highway only passes through Goa and hence it can be built without demolition of the houses by modifying the alignment,” stated Fonseca.
“Goans are not against the development or the highway, but it should be done in a proper way without destroying the environment and ecology of Goa,” added Fonseca.
In his speech, Claude Alvares stated that the State government, which cannot keep the existing roads clean, is planning widening of the roads.
“The people of Goa has launched many agitations and made them successful. If the government does not change the alignment of the national highway, then the people will come down on the streets at Panjim and demand resignation of the ministers. The government should not test the patience of the people,” warned Alvares.
Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza, Siolim MLA Dayanand Mandrekar, Mapusa Municipal Council Chairman Sudhir Kandolkar, Ashok Prabhu, Tulio D’Souza, Dinesh Waghela and NHDAC Convenor Sunil Dessai also spoke on the occasion. Rajsingh Rane compered the meeting.
