PANJIM: Claiming that various long-pending projects of Goa had been granted with Narendra Modi-government at the Centre, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said Goa got a berth in the Union cabinet which the previous (Congress) regime had denied to Goa for 10 long years.
“The former UPA government did not bother to give its MPs from Goa a berth (in the cabinet) during the last 10 years despite the fact the (then) sitting MP was a former chief minister (of Goa),” he said while congratulating North Goa MP Shripad Naik for getting a Union cabinet position, during the congratulatory motion moved by his party MLA Vishnu Surya Wagh on day one of the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly.
“That is why people voted for the BJP in both the constituencies (during 2014 Lok sabha polls)…Modiji gave two important portfolios (Tourism and Culture) for Goa’s representative (Shripad Naik). We are thankful to the Prime Minister for it,” he added, terming Naik as a ‘gentleman’ and a ‘straightforward person.’
Parrikar also added that the four-laning of the road between Old Goa monuments was pending for a long time, which would now be completed as Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has agreed to give the NOC.
Meanwhile, while supporting the congratulatory motion, Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane urged Union Minister to make efforts for setting up an international standard convention centre in Goa, which would help in revenue generation during the lean period. The motion was supported by almost all legislators across party lines.
Rane calls for boost to farming
PANJIM: Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane urged the government to consider giving subsidy on the purchase of agriculture machinery and increase mechanization in a bid to boost farming in Goa.
“Government should think of subsidy on machinery for agriculture. It also has to increase mechanization…” he told the just started monsoon session of the Goa Assembly during a general discussion on the budget on Tuesday.
The former chief minister rued that prices of fertilizer and other inputs in the agriculture sector had shot up, which is discouraging farmers from continuing farming. “Farmers are giving up cultivation. Labour costs have gone up…I am told it is Rs 400 per person for unskilled labour… agriculture has become impossible…Goa is famous for coconut plantation but the growers are giving up this as well, since fertilizer cost has increased,” he added. Rane also alleged that with the increasing cost it was even more difficult to start dairy farming and questioned the government on how many agro-based industries it has created in the State. The Opposition leader also pointed out the increasing prices of essential commodities, various forms of taxes and power tariff have been burning a hole in common man’s pocket. “Internal debt of Goa is rising…. It is frightening…we are running into a debt trap,” he said. The senior Congress leader also highlighted the poor law and order situation in the State and alleged involvement of various African nationals in narcotics trade.
Sawal wants development in Bicholim constituency
PANJIM: A visibly upset independent MLA from Bicholim Naresh Sawal slammed successive governments alleging step-motherly treatment was being meted out to his constituency and listed out long-pending issues neglected by the present as well as former regimes.
He was participating in the general budget discussion in the assembly, Tuesday.
“There is no development in Bicholim for the last seven years. The primary health centre, police station, bus stand, fire services are in bad shape…there are seven schools, one higher secondary and one college in my constituency but not a single playground. We had identified a ground but there is no response from the government,” he said.
Sawal also termed the budget, tabled by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in March, as ‘unrealistic’ since BJP’s election promises to remove casinos from Mandovi River, finalizing Regional Plan 2021, appointment of Lokayukta, State Information Commissioners have still not been fulfilled.
The post of Goa Lokayukta has been vacant since Justice B Sudarshan Reddy resigned in October 2013, seven months after he was appointed as Lokayukta in March 2013.
Sawal also questioned the government’s claims of zero tolerance to corruption alleging corruption has increased during the present tenure. He also questioned government’s stand on the contentious issues such as mining ban, medium of instruction and garbage treatment plant.
Referring to cabinet approved State Investment Policy that expects to generate 50,000 jobs and attract Rs 25,000 crore investment in the next five years, he challenged the government to keep up with its assurances. Upset over the attitude of the government, Sawal criticized the grant of IIT and convention centre for Goa, arguing that the masses will not benefit from this.
Ruling MLAs Subhash Faldesai, Kiran Kandolkar and Michael Lobo applauded the government on its works and schemes for women, students and other sectors, during the general discussion.
