PANJIM, JULY 24
Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao and his brother, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao came in for performance appraisal from some of the MLAs who expressed unhappiness over pending files of various works in their constituencies.
The House was in for some light moment when Fatorda MLA Damu Naik drew comparison of the PWD’s functioning to what was being shown in the Hindi comedy flick ‘Khatta Meetha’ in which Bollywood star Akshay Kumar dons the role of a road contractor.
Both Damu and Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar, while supporting and opposing demands in the afternoon session, suggested Churchill should watch the movie. While Damu said what was shown in the movie was happening with the PWD, Narvekar stated in the flick the contractor, minister and engineer are seen sitting together for drinks.
Bitterly complaining about the PWD Minister’s functioning, the Fatorda MLA said works for which he had done all the running around to get approvals, the latter had given the privilege to bureaucrats to inaugurate the same leaving him completely out. “I do the running around for getting approvals and somebody else comes and breaks the coconut. This is not fair,” he stated.
Taking a dig at several departments, including those handled by the Alemao brothers, he asserted there was no coordination between the PWD, Town and Country Planning, Transport and Municipal Administration. Giving an example, he said the Pasricha report on traffic could not be implemented because these departments were not working in tandem.
He said Joaquim has been assuring of a common cadre for municipalities at an interval of every six months but there was no sign of the same.
Narvekar said, “The PWD has ensured that my performance remains dismal by not carrying out many works. Other constituencies have got more money sanctioned than mine. In one constituency a single tender was of Rs 12 crore.”
Narvekar said the current requirement of water in Porvorim plateau was for 15 MLD, but there is no improvement in the supply. “Only assurances are being made. You can fool some people some time, not all the time,” he chided.
Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes too said like Aldona even in Calangute very less works were tendered. Files are stuck in the Finance Department, he mentioned. My request for a by-pass road from Sinquerim to Baga is still hanging in the air, he added.
Cumbharjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar said contractors are not ready to take up works because of past unpaid bills. “Work order for 60 works is ready in my constituency but there are no tenders. The PWD minister should look into this,” he stated.
He called upon the urban development minister to give due attention to reservation of OBC and ST communities during the forthcoming municipal elections.
Speaking on Municipal Administration Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza also ridiculed Joaquim for not implementing the much-promised common cadre for municipal employees and called for making municipal councils financially independent.
