MARGAO: South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes has cleared the air on Mhadei river, stating that the Congress party will be not compromise on Mhadei, since it is for future generations too.
Reacting to the Congress government in Karnataka trying to divert the Mhadei water at Kankumbi, Capt Fernandes said, “It doesn’t matter if there is a Congress government (in Karnataka). The Congress leadership told us to fight four our rights. The Chief Minister should not be under pressure on Mhadei,” he added.
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“Our stand is very clear. I am speaking as a Goenkar. We should not compromise on Mhadei river. Mhadei is not for you and me. Mhadei is for the future generations. We have to protect this river. If we call it our mother, at no cost should we compromise,” Capt Fernandes said.
On the issue of Congress government in power in Karnataka, Fernandes said, “Agreed there is a Congress government in Karnataka, doesn’t matter. We have to protect our interest. Even our Congress leadership had told, you have to fight for our rights. So that itself was good enough signal that no compromise on Mhadei.”
“I want to tell the chief minister, there may be pressure on you, because they have 28 (MPs) seats in Karnataka, we have just two seats. But the one who puts his hand on (to destroy) Goa, will perish,” Capt Fernandes cautioned.
Meanwhile, South Goa MP has said the last child in the village should get the benefit of development. He called for focus on education, water, environment and medical facilities and said he would work with the State government on these issues.
Capt Fernandes pointed out the three issues raised by O Heraldo, the lack of road for Carla students, the case of 85-year-old Bhagirathi unable to get her pension and the lack of facilities at primary health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs), where they have to rush to South Goa District Hospital, Margao for medical care.
“There was a report (on O Heraldo/Herald TV) in one remote village of Carla in Sanguem, which people did not know existed. There is an 85-year-old woman (Bhagirathi) staying with her (blind) husband. The Rs 1,500 monthly pension which they get, she is not able to collect it because there is no road and there is no one to take her to the bank,” Capt Fernandes said.
“So I spoke to them. Can we use this money for building a road? It will benefit the whole village,” he added.
In the second incident, the MP mentioned another story done by O Heraldo/Herald TV, “I also came across this village where the parents are not sending the children to school because no bus comes to the village. This is where roads and school buses are required. We are destroying the entire life of a child. We are boasting of national highway, bridges. Our people should benefit.”
Capt Fernandes also mentioned the third story done by O Heraldo/Herald TV about the poor state of the CHCs and PHCs. “In Sanvordem, Sanguem and Quepem by the time they bring the patient to South Goa District Hospital at Margao, he dies on the way. There are these PHCs and CHCs. How can we upgrade them so that people have a medical facility close to them?” he added.
