CANACONA
PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral on Thursday chided two local elected representatives for their unreasonable demands and also rebuked a PWD officer for seeking ‘priority’ to carry out regular department works, during the ‘Prashasan Tumchya Dari’ programme at Canacona.
Cabral was addressing the grievances of people in the presence of Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, Canacona Deputy Collector Ramesh Gaonkar, Canacona Mamlatdar Manoj Korgaonkar, BJP State Secretary Sarvanand Bhagat and different heads of the various departments at the Deputy Collectorate building in Chaudi.
Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar handed over a list of grievances from the CMC, while councillors Simon Rebello, Pandurang Naikgaonkar, Hemant Naikgaunkar and Shubham Komarpant also presented their demands and grievances.
Former CMC Chairperson & councillor Simon Rebelo then informed Nilesh Cabral that the 5-year CRZ licences/NOCs issued to tourism stakeholders are expiring this year. He requested the government to explore the possibility of extending the NOCs by at least a year, so that the tourism stakeholders will get some respite in their trade and need not dismantle their structures after the end of this season.
A short while later, Agonda sarpanch Fatima Rodrigues sought the improvement of water supply and repair of internal roads, while also requesting the grant of a 1-year extension for the 5-year NOCs which expire this year.
A visibly annoyed Cabral flatly refused to entertain their demand for an extension in the NOCs.
“You are asking for too much. Earlier, CRZ NOCs were granted to tourism stakeholders only for one year, but based on the demand, the government increased it for a period of five years. ‘Tumi Bot ghalunk dilear hath ghaltat’ and this is not correct. No, you will have to re-apply for fresh NOCs after the end of the five-year period this year,” Cabral bluntly told them.
During another issue, the minister was hearing a grievance of Poinguinim panchas Pravir Bhandari, Satish Poinguinkar and Shilpa Prabhugaonkar, when he turned to seek a clarification from a PWD officer.
One PWD officer was heard telling the minister to get certain works on priority.
Cabral reacted angrily and asked the officer, “What priority do you want? Why are you asking for priority? It was your duty to do the work, and move the files, as per the work that is undertaken. It’s the duty of the department to carry out the work entrusted to them. You do your work for which you are paid a salary. Or else, I will have to ask for ‘priority’ to pay your salary,” Cabral rebuked the officer concerned.
Khotigao sarpanch Anandu Dessai raised the issue of the 15-km Avali Road, stating the estimate was ready but pending with the ministry, 3.5 km road at Bordem-Kosmakade, and another a 3-km road at Nadkem.
The Gaondongrim deputy sarpanch raised some issues in Gaondongrim, while Loliem-Polem sarpanch Pratiza Bandekar said the water supply is a big issue in the village.
Poinguinim sarpanch Savita Tawadkar spoke, while panch Satish Poinguinkar sought a 90 mm water supply line at Welwada which is pending for 10 years. Panch Pravir Bhandari also asked for a proper water pipeline, while Shilpa Prabhu Gaonkar raised the issue of a retaining wall near the Church.
