Minister for the Department of Drinking Water Subhash Phal Dessai laying the foundation stone for the replacement of the water pipeline in Sao Jose de Areal village in the presence of Velim MLA Cruz Silva, Sarpanch Joycee Dias and others.
MARGAO
Minister for the Department of Drinking Water, Subhash Phal Dessai, on Wednesday said the 600-odd families who were displaced due to the construction of the Selaulim water project have finally been given land title documents after 40 long years.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the replacement of water pipelines at Sao Jose de Areal village in the Velim constituency, the Minister said these families made a big sacrifice to ensure that drinking water was made available to an entire district.
“These people hail from my Sanguem constituency. They had lost their land, their places of worship, etc. after they were relocated to a new site, 14 km away from their habitat. They made a big sacrifice just to ensure that drinking water was made available to the people of South Goa,” he said, adding that these people have now been given land titles after 40 years.
Commenting on the water replacement project at Areal, the Minister complimented Velim MLA Cruz Silva for his constant follow-up with the department to sanction the project. “As a government, it is our duty to lay infrastructure across the state, irrespective of political affiliations. In this instant case, the Velim MLA was also doing constant follow-up with the department. Though he does not speak much, he is one MLA who does the follow-up and gets the work done,” he said.
