MARGAO: Terming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government’s statements on free water, power rebate, restarting mining and jobs as election gimmicks, South Goa Member of Parliament Francisco Sardinha on Thursday demanded an immediate solution to the sand extraction issue in the State.
Briefing the media persons at Margao, he alleged that few government officers, besides some corrupt police personnel are involved in illegal sand extraction.
The MP demanded that the jobs announced by the government should be permanent and not on contract basis. The government should mark certain areas, except those near the bridges and bundh to allow legal sand extraction.
Sardinha said earlier the Chief Minister had announced about the free water to each household up to 16,000 litres, and now the government has declared a power rebate to the consumers. This is all to fool the people of Goa, as the elections are approaching.
“We are not against the schemes announced by the government but benefits should have been given at the time when people were badly affected due to the COVID pandemic”, he said.
The MP said the assurance with regards to restarting mining within the next few months is just to fool the people dependent on mining. “This government has become habitual of fooling the people. The Chief Minister’s assurance on mining has always been noted at the time of elections. As MP, am ready to support the government regarding mining and more especially to discuss the issue with the Central government, if the Goa government is serious about it”, said Sardinha.
On the issue of sand extraction, he said there is sand shortage in Goa, which is badly affecting the construction activities.
