the goan I network
MAPUSA
Pointing to acute scarcity of pipeline water supply in Tivim constituency, Congress MLA Nilkant Halarnkar on Saturday called for the immediate resignation of the PWD minister, while labeling the BJP-led state government as “sadist”.
“PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar is a good person, but he has failed as a minister. For seven years at a stretch, he has held the portfolio of PWD. He has only made assurances on the floor of the House of providing 24-hour water supply to Goans. But today, we don’t get water even for an hour a day. I demand that the PWD minister resigns immediately,” said Halarnkar.
The Tivim MLA was addressing a news conference along with some panch members of Tivim panchayat and prominent locals of the constituency on Saturday.
Along with the PWD minister, Halarnkar said the BJP-led government should also go home. “This government is a sadist. There’s no humanity left. They thrive on the sufferings of the common man. Else, how can one explain for the last several days there is not a single drop of water available in Tivim, whole of Bardez and other parts of North Goa. But we cannot hear a single statement from the government. Is this the way they treat Goenkars?” quizzed Halarnkar, who is the only opposition MLA in Bardez.
A couple of days ago, Revenue Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khuante had also targeted the PWD minister and department officials for failure to release adequate water supply in Porvorim.
Stating that the government was sick and frail, the Tivim MLA said the coalition government led by the BJP was not working for the common man.
He further said that the government appeared to be targeting people only during festivals and pointed out how the first water problem took place during Chaturthi and this one was during the festival of Diwali. He wondered aloud what was in store for Christmas.
He also criticized the government for targeting Tivim, as almost all villages in the constituency failed to get adequate supply of water in the last several days. “Why are you neglecting Tivim? Because I am in the opposition?” he queried.
The Tivim MLA also censured the government for failing to pay salaries of Goans who were working at the Assonora water treatment plant.
Former sarpanch and panch member, Shivdas Kambli informed that panchayat members were getting calls from locals about lack of water supply.
A resident of Assonora, Vijay Benaulikar, said in spite of living close to the WTP, they did not get proper water supply.
He said the PWD minister should own up for failing to take responsibility and apologise to the people.
