Avinash Tavares
avinash@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: In 2016, Union Minister Nitin Gatkari had announced the center is spending Rs 20,000 crores on various projects in Goa. However, the Ministry of Statistics And Programme Implementation has revealed in the recent Parliamentary session that only Rs 411.77 crore has been utilised in the State. According to the last monthly flash report released in Oct 2018, 10 projects are currently ongoing originally worth Rs 4,300 Crores. Since October, no reports have been released.
The Ministry monitors on-going Central Sector Infrastructure Projects costing Rs. 150 crore and above on time and cost overruns, on the basis of information provided by the project implementing agencies. The project implementing agencies have informed the Ministry that the main reasons for cost overrun of the Projects are law and order problems, delay in land acquisition, delay in environment and forest clearances, funding constraints, rehabilitation and resettlement issues, local body / municipal permissions, utility shifting, contractual issues, etc.
In Goa, the projects such as MPT dredging and berth expansion and installing additional railway tracks (double tracking) have all faced opposition from locals due to environmental. Projects such as Western bypass and the Zuari Bridge have been delayed due to land acquisition and slow construction.
Goencho Awaaz convener Captain Viriato Fernandes stated that the Central Government is responsible for the delays of the projects. “Projects like MPT coal expansion and railway double tracking are bulldozed without considering ground realities. The Zuari Bridge is unplanned and now they want to divert traffic to save the contractor from penalties. Any loses caused due to the delay only because of the incompetence and arrogance of the Central and State Government.”, he said.
