the goan I network
VASCO
Refuting allegations by Sancoale panch Tulshidas Naik that she had ignored panchayat works and cleaning of a nullah that led to flooding in Sancoale on Friday, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha has hit back saying the latter had failed in his duties and was responsible for the water-logging.
“The panch never approached my office. Based on a request by a resident, I contacted the WRD and got an inspection done. Estimates were being planned and works on the nullah will be taken up soon,” said Saldanha, when contacted along the sidelines of a function at Cansaulim.
“When he says that he had desilted the nullah eight years ago, I think it is understood that it’s high time the nullah has to be desilted again considering that the population and quantum of garbage has increase manifold in these years.”
“But the panch failed in his responsibility otherwise he could have done this minor job through the panchayat or could have approached my office in case he had issues with the local body, which he has not done,” said Saldanha.
The MLA recalled that in first week of June, a local had approached her office with a demand to desilt the nullah and she contacted the WRD for necessary action. “I got an inspection done and they are now preparing estimates. Once the estimates are passed, works on this nullah will be taken up,” said Saldanha.
“Panch Tulshidas Naik should realise that administration happens at two levels, at the panchayat level and government level. Every Panch has to precisely to look into minute need of his wards and these needs to be taken care of in a timely manner.”
“Had this been done earlier or had he informed me earlier, the flooding in Sancoale would not have happened. I hold him solely responsible for the suffering of people.”
