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Gaonkar is making
contradictory
statements
- Phaldessai, Sanguem MLA
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PROPOSED ALCOHOL FACTORY
STIRS UP MIXED EMOTIONS
IN SANGUEM >> See pg 2
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PANAJI: Two factions in a ward at Sanguem taluka are divided over a contentious issue -- a proposed alcohol factory. One raises a toast while another shows thumbs down to the project, the news of which has been doing the rounds in Ward no 10. While a group of locals including families from the Scheduled Tribe oppose the project fearing danger to ecology, a big chunk of members from the Sanguem Municipal Council (SMC) have welcomed the project on the grounds that a non-polluting industry would help generate employment.
In the meanwhile, a political blame-game seems to have ensued with local MLA Subhash Phaldessai backing the project 'which would benefit the local youth', but SMC councillor Prakash Gaonkar doesn't agree.
Says Phaldessai while speaking to 'The Goan', "he (Gaonkar) is trying to mobilise opposition against me as the assembly elections are approaching. He won the municipal election on a promise of setting up a factory in Ambdai village which would generate employment for local youth. Now, he makes contradictory statements.”
If the locals of Ambdai have no objection to the proposed alcohol factory, then I have no reservations against project, he adds.
Responding to Phaldessai's allegations that he has been instigating the locals, Gaonkar shoots back, “I am not instigating Ambadai locals against the Sanguem MLA. On the contrary, the local people are asking me to support them in their opposition to the project.”
