Rane’s assurance keeps Sardesai from asking for preventive check-up under DDSY scheme
PORVORIM: Fatorda MLA VIjai Sardesai on Friday withdrew his resolution recommending the government to include preventive health check-up under the Deen Dayal Swasth Seva Yojana (DDSY) Scheme following an assurance by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.
Rane assured him that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in his budget has announced health for all and that the government is taking all measures to provide better health facilities to the people of Goa.
Rane also assured the members in the Legislative Assembly that the government will out modalities to renew the lapsed DDSY cards.
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao complained that the Goa Football Association (GFA) was yet to receive two ambulances sanctioned through the MPLAD scheme. To this, the Minister told him that the health department is ready to receive the ambulances and run it through the 108 ambulance services. Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte also urged the government to include preventive health check-up under the DDSSY scheme.
land acquisition is initiated within 6 months thereof. Once the land acquisition is finalized, the mutation of property is processed. However, the land owners have been reluctant to take up the mutation process as the “irrevocable” NOC means giving up ownership rights. The former PWD Minister pointed out that in absence of completed procedure, the PWD officials and all those concerned with the works could face legal problems.
The CM then informed the House that the circular issued by the Vigilance Department is already withdrawn. “We will come out with a new circular by deleting the word “irrevocable.”
CM to approve long-pending Mungul-Colva road work
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured the House on Thursday to approve the pending file on the completion of the 2-km Mungul-Colva road, which remains incomplete since BRICS Summit in 2016. “I will approve the file today,” CM said in response to Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao’s apprehension over continued delay in completing the work. During the discussion in the first hour of the House Business, Alemao said the file for the road completion is caught in red-tapism.
Initially, the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation had started the work to widen the road during BRICS-2016. It was eventually handed over to the Public Works Department at an estimated cost of Rs 11.50 crores. The MLA sought to know why the project was handed over from GSIDC to PWD and an inordinate delay but the government did not provide appropriate answer.
Incidentally, the matter was also discussed during the monsoon session of the legislative assembly in 2019 when the government had assured to complete the works in may 2020.
CM decisive to set up IRB camp in South Goa
PORVORIM: The State government has refused demands to revert the 1lakh sq mtrs of land for the purpose of setting up Leprosy Hospital. Considering absence of IRB camp in South goa, the government has already approved setting up IRB Camp in Curtorim.
“People oppose every government project. We have decided to come up with IRB Camp since there is none in the South district, causing inconvenience to the personnel. Let’s take the local village panchayat, people and the MLA in confidence for this project,” the CM said in response to a Calling Attention moved by MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.
The local MLA tabled that there has been anxiety and mental agony to the residents of Curtorim village and the surrounding Macasana village over the State Government’s move to set up the IRB camp on the one lakh square metre of Leprosy Hospital Land transferred to the Goa Police by the Directorate of Health Services (DHS).
Lourenco told the House that neither people nor he as their representative are against the IRB Camp but the land should be utilized for the hospital itself that would offer low cost treatment to the people. The CM however did not heed to the request stating everyone will be taken into confidence for the government project.
In his written reply, he said, “In this context, it is stated that since the IRB is established by the Government of Goa the land is required for development of infrastructure for the IRBN. Therefore, the Government in public interest has decided in principle to utilize the said land.”
Streamlining billing system in the card
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured the Goa Legislative Assembly on Thursday to streamline the utility billing system following complaints of inordinate delay and exorbitant charges. “The residents are being charged Rs 100 for inspection and Rs 78 for meters, besides the actual billing fees for water supply. How are poor people to survive,” Ponda MLA Ravi Naik raised during Zero Hour mention. To this, the CM said that his Budget has promised to streamline the billing system. “We are revising all the bills. The amount will be reduced,” hesaid.
CM assures to resolve around pending Sanad applications
PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured the House on Thursday to resolve the issue around pending Sanad applications at Mayem. “I am personally monitoring it. Similarly, the local MLA is also personally looking into the matter. We will do things possible,” the CM said. He was replying to a Zero Hour mention by Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLA Vijai Sardesai wherein the latter pointed out that out of around 1140 applications, only 326 have been granted Sanad. “I request to dispose of the applications in a timely manner,” Sardesai urged which was followed by CM’s assurance to the House.
