PONDA
PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Wednesday expressed confidence that Goa would witness a significant change, going by the number of projects either underway or planned within next 5 years.
Speaking to The Goan, the minister evaluated the 100 days of coalition government in the State and his assessment of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, while also detailing the key projects in his PWD and transport departments which are underway and being unveiled by him.
ON MAJOR PROJECTS IN 100 DAYS: I am happy we could clear the pending bills and could start development works. We have almost cleared pending bills of Rs 700 crore and works of 9,000 crore have started. We have been able to clear the backlog and complete the pending works. Now, we will not undertake new projects unless these works are completed.
In all, major projects worth Rs 9,000 crore are being implemented and they include the new Zuari bridge, widening of highway between Patradevi and Bambolim, western bypass at Margao, Dhavali bypass, Galgibaga bridge and widening of NH4 between Anmod and Panaji. Major decisions pertaining to these projects were taken during these 100 days.
Apart from this, the State government released around Rs 800 crore for sewerage and water pipeline. Sewerage networks in Candolim, Calangute and Mapusa are in the completion stage. Two sewerage plants at Navelim will begin on June 28. The sewerage work at Vasco has started. The Detailed Project Reports (DPR) for Curchorem, some parts of Colva, Porvorim, Mapusa, Fatorda, Bichiolim, Dabolim are ready and tendering will be done in December.
To avoid the traffic congestion at the busy ‘Hatkatro Khamb’ junction in Old Goa, we are constructing a flyover at an estimated cost of about Rs 40 crore and foundation stone will be laid on June 28.
With all these works either underway of being planned, the face of Goa will change in terms of infrastructure within the next five years.
ON KEY PROJECTS IN PWD: The problem of water supply in Mormugao taluka will be solved by November, with the pipeline under JICA project to be completed within a few months. The 100 MLD water treatment plant at Sanguem is under completion, while two water treatment plants of 28 MLD and 15 MLD capacity will be commissioned soon at Panchwadi.
The hurdles to begin these projects were cleared within these 100 days. Also, a similar 25 MLD water treatment plant at Ganjem-Usgao was earlier stuck in the acquisition stage, but the it is now cleared and work will start soon. The DPR for the 10 MLD plant at Canacona and 5 MLD plant at Netravali is ready and has been sent for sanction. As far as water to industrial areas is concerned, water treated from the sewerage treatment plants is being sent for gardening activities in industrial areas and raw water is being provided to these industrial areas as well.
ON KEY PROJECTS IN TRANSPORT DEPT:
In the last 100 days, we had taken steps to make transactions online and we have even launched the ‘Transport App’. A Truck Plaza has been planned in Ponda and DPR of this project was prepared during these 100 days. A Vehicle Testing Laboratory and Driving track in Ponda has been also planned.
Most importantly, all district, major district roads, state and national highways in the State will be covered under CCTV cameras and will be linked to police stations and hospitals. If any accident or crime takes place, the police can rush to the site while prompt treatment can also be provided to the injured persons. The DPR of this project is ready and a proposal will be sent for sanction next month.
We also want to renovate some bus stands. The bus stands at Ponda and Mapusa will be renovated with all facilities. We will also set up a Traffic Management Plan at an estimated cost of Rs 90 crore for Ponda.
ON CM PARRIKAR: I think only CM Parrikar can deliver well and hence, we had told senior BJP leaders that MGP would support them only if Parrikar became the chief minister. He is a leader of very high calibre and I don’t see such virtues in anyone else. Show me one person with calibre similar to that of Parrikar. The Congress could not choose its leader soon after the Assembly elections and when the electorate delivered a fractured mandate in the State, we had to join hands for the betterment of Goa. And yes, we have succeeded during these 100 days and full credit goes to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Parrikar and the MGP.
