MAPUSA
Stressing the need to awaken nationalist sentiments among the youth, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said the government intends to renovate all freedom-related monuments and forts in the State.
He also disclosed that the home department has passed a resolution to establish ‘kranti maidans’ in different talukas in the State.
“During the celebration of the 60th year of the liberation of Goa, it is our endeavour to renovate all freedom struggle related memorials and forts in the State. Names of people who played a major part in the freedom struggle should also be appropriately displayed to acknowledge their contribution for posterity,” Sawant said.
“The monuments of Dipaji Rane in Sattari, Hirve Guruji, Lohia who have all contributed immensely for the liberation of Goa have to be renovated and restored,” he added.
The chief minister made the announcement during the Question Hour while responding to queries raised by Ponda MLA Ravi Naik regarding the beautification of Kranti Maidan in his constituency.
PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar informed that Rs 4.23 crore was spent on beautifying the Kranti Maidan in Ponda and the consultant was paid Rs 20 lakh.
The Ponda MLA informed the House that the consultant for the beautification project was not appointed as per the law and demanded an inquiry into the matter.
“The consultant who was given the task to prepare the project was not appointed from the list of empanelled consultants as per requirement. The consultant was appointed on October 8, 2013 and given charge on October 10, 2013 and then empanelled on October 17, 2019. These consultants are paid in lakhs. Is this legal?” Naik alleged.
The chief minister informed that the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) had given an empanelled consultant to the PWD, who then designed the Kranti Maidan.
He further informed that besides the then Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar who had moved the proposal of beautification, the Ponda municipal council had also requested to renovate the maidan on June 20, 2013.
“Good work has been done on the Kranti Maidan in Ponda. The Ponda MLA should feel proud that such a Kranti Maidan is there in his constituency,” Sawant said.
The Ponda MLA, however, was not satisfied with the reply and asked the PWD minister what was the urgency to take up the beautification of the Kranti Maidan in Ponda.
“What was the hurry to beautify the Kranti Maidan in Ponda and get all the approvals from EE, SEC, minister and the CM all in one day? Has any other works been done with so much urgency in the State?” he sought to know.
He reminded the House that the land which was with the military was released to the State government when Sharad Pawar was the defence minister.
“There was no kranti at Ponda. Kranti happened at Lohia Maidan in Margao. The Kranti in Ponda was to get the land from the military,” he said.
