PANJIM: Ministers in the State government are upset with Goa Legislative Speaker Pramod Sawant for meddling into the matters concerning the ministers’ departments.
First Health Minister Vishwajit Rane was upset with the Speaker on the fish import issue and now it is Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar who is upset with Sawant.
On Friday, Palyekar expressed that he is upset over the Speaker’s action of by-passing him over the issue related to Water Resources Department (WRD).
Sawant on Thursday had called for a meeting of officials at his chamber and announced that WRD will pump out water from the mining pits into the rivulets, which have run dry. The farmers in Sattari area have been requesting the State government to pump out water from the mining pits into the rivulet, which they can use to irrigate their fields.
Palyekar said that the Speaker has no authority to direct any department, without taking the minister into confidence, on any of the issue. He said that the State government is sympathetic towards demands of the farmers and a solution would be worked out during the meeting called by Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai on December 12.
“I am the Minister of WRD. The Speaker should have taken me into confidence before assuring anything related to my department. I am well aware about the problems faced by the farmers and that is why we have called for a special meeting on December 12,” Palyekar said.
He informed that the WRD would not pump out water from the mining pits from Saturday as assured by the Speaker. “We will take appropriate decision in the meeting on December 12,” he added.
The high-level meeting is expected to be attended by all the ministers and MLAs representing mining belt. Chief Secretary and other officials will also be present for the meeting.
