VASCO
Hitting hit back at former Sancoale sarpanch Girish Pillai, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha has said he was ignorant on both issues related to the Zuari Market Complex and the rehabilitation scheme for Zuarinagar.
Reacting to his statements in a report in The Goan (October 15), Saldanha said right from the day the work on the Zuari Market Complex started till date, Pillai “has never bothered to find out about the progress of this infrastructure or else he would have known that there are genuine reasons for the delay.”
“The fact is that there was a flaw in the planning as a result of which the area allotted for the vendors in the structure turned out to be too small and had to be changed.”
“Due to this fact, we had to approach the management of Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited for more land and the request was granted. But the entire exercise took time and when we approached MPDA with the plan for the extension of the Market Complex we were told by MPDA that we have to apply for the Navy NOC.”
“Accordingly, we moved the file to the Navy Goa-Sector (FOGA) from where the file moved to Mumbai, from Mumbai to Delhi and we are presently awaiting the file to come back to Goa sector so we can get the permission to carry on with the work on Zuari Market Complex,” said Saldanha.
The Cortalim MLA said it was a lie that former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar gave a file to Pillai regarding the rehabilitation of Zuarinagar.
“There could not be a file at the time since GRB had not even started the process and the question of giving this file to this ex-sarpanch (Pillai) never arose.”
“The process for rehabilitation was started with prospective owners of vacant land. Dialogue and inspections were carried out with ZACL, Communidade of Sancoale and a well-known builder who was co-ordinating with a private land owner.”
“However, ZACL management was not able to give vacant land and the same was the case with the private builder and the Communidade of Sancoale. Interestingly, the representative of Sancoale Communidade at the time was none other than Ramakant Borkar who also failed to provide land for rehabilitation.”
“For rehabilitation, vacant land is essential so vertical construction can be carried out to house those dwellers sprawled all over a certain area and the vacant land can then be handed back to the owner who benefits for the land he/she gives.”
“Till date, GRB has not found a donor but in the meanwhile GRB has surveyed different areas at Zuarinagar and has necessary information ready.”
“The ex-sarpanch should also stop entertaining the idea that I consider him to be my political rival. This thought has never ever entered my mind. In fact, when he needed my assistance I helped him,” Saldanha added.
