CUNCOLIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Friday said his government stands firm in developing the State for the benefit of Goans and reaffirmed that the railway double tracking project is not to turn Goa into a coal hub.
“Time and again I have said and tried to convince that the railway double tracking project is not to turn Goa into a coal hub but that it will benefit locals in the long run. The government will not succumb to such pressure tactics. We are firm in developing the State of Goa to benefit common people,” Sawant said at Cuncolim, whilst speaking at a function to start desilting and cleaning the Selaulim canal under the Atmanirbhar and Swayampurn Goa Scheme.
Sawant said the opposition parties are misleading and misguiding citizens over the development.
Sawant came down heavily on opposition parties and others opposing the various development projects in the State. He said some of those who are settled in London and some political parties who had lost people’s trust are jealous of the State government’s performance.
“They do not want the State to grow. Their only agenda is to oppose and oppose. Railway double tracking project or National Highway project and Electricity project will benefit the State. Those who are opposing these projects also want to enjoy the benefits. How can you enjoy facilities without development?” Sawant asked.
“The government is ready to discuss all issues but will not bow down to pressure tactics,” he said.
He said that the State’s priority is to take the government benefits to the poorest of all. “We are working under Antodaya programme and hence to reach out to every person, government has appointed special officers who will go to every ward of each panchayat and will promote various government schemes. Every Saturday these officers will visit each panchayat and will see that all those who are differently-abled will get the necessary benefits from the special schemes,” the CM added.
DyCM Chandrakant Kavlekar, highlighting various schemes under the Agriculture Department, said the government is dedicated to take Goa forward. “The opposition has failed to perform when they were in power. Now they don’t want to see the development we are making. For no reason they are opposing each and every project,” Kavlekar said.
WRD Minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues said that under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Swayampurn Goa Scheme, the State government, under WRD and RDA, has taken up two projects one at North Goa where government will spend Rs 1.25 crore for desilting and cleaning of canals and the other in South Goa for cleaning and desilting of 60-km long Selaulim Canal.
“Under these projects those workers registered under MGNREGA Scheme will get employment. This project will be completed under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and local workers will be employed,” assured the WRD minister.
Present were also local MLA Clafacio Dias, VCP Videsh Dessai and others.
