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MARGAO
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday warned the powers that be not to play with the demography of Comba ward, saying the party along with Comba residents will go to any extent to stop rehabilitation of outside people on the land acquired by the government in the locality.
The warning comes ahead of a joint meeting convened by PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Tuesday in Panaji to take a call on the rehabilitation of outside people at Comba, with the party asserting that Comba residents will oppose tooth and nail any proposal to set up shanties on the acquired land in the ward.
Addressing the media, BJP leader Sharmad Raiturkar said that the party is in receipt of reliable information that certain vested interests are working behind the scenes to settle outside people into Comba on the land acquired for the rehabilitation of people affected by the ring road project. “We want to make it clear that the BJP in particular and residents of Comba will not tolerate any attempts by the powers that be to rehabilitate outside people in Comba on the acquired land and change the demography of the ward,” Sharmad warned.
He said the people of Comba will explore various options, including taking legal recourse to stop rehabilitation of outside people in the ward, asserting that the authorities and the powers that be will be solely responsible for any untoward incident. “We have no objection if the 11 families from Comba, who were displaced by the ring road project are rehabilitated on the acquired land. In fact, we demand that these 11 families, which are currently being accommodated temporarily at the Rumdamol Housing Board should be rehabilitated on the acquired land at the earliest,” he said, but warned of an agitation if any family other than the 11 families are rehabilitated on the land.
Saying that Comba ward has no major recreational amenities, Sharmad demanded that a portion of the acquired land after rehabilitating the 11 displaced families should be utilised for recreation including a jogging track, centre for the senior citizens et al for the benefit of Comba residents.
To a question, Sharmad said the party has information that the powers that be has plan to rehabilitate around 93 families on the acquired land other than the 11 families from Comba.
“This will change the demography of Comba. We will never allow this to happen,” he warned.
Govt sanctions `27.5 cr underground sewage line for Comba
MARGAO: There’s good news in store for residents of Comba plagued by overflowing sewage chambers and drains clogged by sewage.
BJP leader Sharmad Raiturkar announced on Friday that the coalition government has sanctioned an underground sewage line estimated to cost around Rs 27.5 crore and will replace the damaged line which has been responsible for causing nuisance in Comba locality. “In the first phase, work of Rs 14 crore will be taken up by the government. The work order for these two works have already been given to two contractors. We want the contractors to start the work before the election code of conduct,” Sharmad said.
While profusely thanking Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for taking personal interest and sanctioning the project, Sharmad said Comba ward had been devastated with sewage, which has found its way in the drains and has contaminated the wells. “The new line will give relief to the people of Comba from the sewage stink,” he added.
