MARGAO
The prized chairmanship of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGDPA) has been bagged by Vasco MLA Daji Salkar, while Salcete lone BJP MLA Ulhas Tuenkar and Independent supporting MLA Reginaldo Lourenco from the taluka have been appointed to head the KTC and Goa IDC Corporations.
In fact, all eyes were focused on the SGDPA Chairmanship, with questions doing the rounds in political circles, both within the ruling party and outside, about how the ruling BJP will go about nominating the party MLA to the post.
The SGDPA chairmanship has been under the scanner since the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao and Ponda has been opened for suggestions and objections from the public to prepare a new ODP 2032.
In fact, after Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco missed the Cabinet bus during the last week’s expansion, many were left to wonder whether the Independent MLA will be accommodated on the SGPDA for extending support to the BJP government.
As it has turned out, however, the government has appointed the Vasco MLA on the SGDPA as its Chairman, while appointing BJP Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar and Curtorim Independent MLA Reginaldo Lourenco on the KTC and GIDC, respectively.
Reginaldo, however, had no complaints to offer on the government nominating the Vasco MLA on the SGDPA. “I had never set my eyes on the SGDPA. People consider the SGDPA as the pidda (disease) and I did not want to be a part of this Planning body”, he said.
That’s not all. Expressing happiness that the government has appointed him as the GIDC Chairman, Reginaldo reiterated that his priority is to usher in the development of his Curtorim constituency.
“I am not after posts and positions. Since I had promised my people to bring in development and provide jobs, I will go all out to fulfil the aspirations of my people”, he said.
Sources in the know pointed out that BJP first time Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar was also not interested in heading the SGDPA for a host of reasons. If given the choice, sources said, Tuenkar would have opted for the Horticulture Corporation but as a first time MLA, has no qualms since the government has appointed him to head the KTC.
