TEAM HERALD
PORVORIM: Do people have a fear of law enforcement agencies like the police in the State?
Apparently not, and this “sorry state of affairs” was admitted by none other than Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who also holds the portfolio of the home ministry.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the proposed Mapusa Police station building, Parrikar recalled his fear of the police, during the pre-liberation era.
“During the pre-liberation days when I was young, I used to have a fear even while passing by the side of Mapusa Police station. But now, nobody is scared of the police and this is the sorry state of affairs,” said Parrikar.
Turning his attention to water supply in the State, Parrikar requested the people to make careful use of water, since it is a scarce commodity.
“The government supplies treated water to the public at a subsidized rate of Rs 2.5 per cubic meter, while it actually costs the government about Rs 10 per cubic meter. People should, therefore, avoid using treated water for gardening and washing of vehicles,” he added.
In his address, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza informed that the contractor has assured to complete construction of Mapusa police station building by September 2014. “This project was prepared almost eight years ago, but the previous government in power did not release the funds,” claimed D’Souza.
He also informed that work on the new fish market building is almost complete and added that the vegetable market, new Kadamba bus stand and Ravindra Bhavan would be taken up soon.
Water Resource Minister Dayanand Mandrekar and Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar also spoke on the occasion.
Earlier in his welcome speech, DGP Kishan Kumar stated that the cost of the Mapusa police station building project is Rs 6.56 crore and though the contractor is required to complete the work by March 2015, the project could be complete ahead of schedule.
Stating that there are 32 police stations in the State, including seven coastal police stations and 32 police outposts, DGP Kumar informed that the new building for the Bicholim and Quepem police stations would be built shortly.
DIG Dr O P Misra later proposed the vote of thanks.
Environment Minister Alina Saldanha, Deputy Speaker Anand Shet, Aldona MLA Glenn Ticlo, Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar and Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Sandeep Falari were among those present on the occasion.
