MARGAO
More than a fortnight after she quit the Congress party after accusing Congress veteran Luizinho Faleiro of not working for her success in the Zilla Panchayat by-poll, Congress-turned-AAP leader Pratima Coutinho returned to Navelim on Tuesday to set an ultimatum to the Congress MLA to get the Salpem lake restored to its pristine glory.
Accompanied by local AAP volunteers and farmers, who once cultivated the fields in the Salpem lake, the former Congress Mahila Chief said the state of affairs of the lake only goes to show that no action has been taken by the elected representatives to restore the water body.
“Faleiro is representing Navelim today. It is his job and duty to get the lake restored. This issue has been affecting the people and farmers as the lake has been devastated by the sewage waters from neighbouring Margao,” she said.
Saying that Salpem lake is a heritage place, Pratima demanded to know from Faleiro and Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao the steps they had taken to restore the lake.
“Churchill had also represented Navelim for five years. Recently, the Benaulim MLA announced that the river Sal is being desilted by the government, but he should know that the river is getting contaminated by the sewage waters flowing via the Salpem lake,” she added.
A farmer Cruz Rodrigues explained how the present state of affairs of the lake has forced farmers to stay away from paddy cultivation.
