the goan I network
PANAJI
Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar resigned from his position as chairman of the Goa Forest Development Corporation saying the government had let him down, but would continue supporting the government for now.
He has, however, not ruled out withdrawing support to the government entirely “when the time comes in consultation with his voters.”
Prasad Gaonkar is an independent MLA and a strong aspirant for a ministerial berth in the government. He remained absent for the swearing-in of two new ministers held on Monday.
Gaonkar was amongst the group of six legislators headed by Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai, to show unity and had asked for a permanent political solution when they met the BJP Central observers recently.
Speaking to reporters at Panaji, Gaonkar accused the government of failing to solve the mining issue citing the fact that his constituency is the most affected by the shutdown.
“The administration is paralysed. Sanguem constituency is only seen as a source of an MLA for supporting the government. Neither the Congress nor the BJP has given any ministerial berth to this constituency”, he lamented.
He, however, ruled out that he was in contact with the Congress.
Expressing resentment about the government functioning Gaonkar said: “I could not give justice to the Goa Forest Development Corporation in last 15 months as there was no support from the government side.
“I was waiting for Chief Minister who is also the forest minister to address my grievances once he comes to Goa. But for last 7 months he is in and out of the State”, he said.
“When State Forest Minister himself is absent for a long time, what kind of development can we expect from this department”, he asked.
He pointed out his proposal for rejuvenation scheme of cashew plantation had been rejected three times. “There is no permanent staff in the Corporation, even there is no full-fledged managing director,” he lamented explaining his reasons for quitting.
“Government also didn’t support my plan of creating recreational activities facilities at Botanical garden,” he said.
He also said that new cashew tree plantation in a government property of 9-10 hectare is still pending.
Other MLAs supporting the government too have expressed their resentment over the recent Cabinet reshuffle, but have not been as vocal given that they are part of the ruling party, he said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of workers owing allegiance to Pandurang Madkaikar called on BJP President Vinay Tendulkar and questioned him over Madkaikar being dropped from the Cabinet. “He promised us that if Madkaikar returns fit and fine, his ministry will be given back to him. He also promised that constituents will be provided jobs,” a supporter who declined to be named, said.
The supporter, however lamented that “but you know how it is. When they took him (Madkaikar) to the BJP they promised him the moon. Now when he is unwell, they didn’t even call his family to say that he was being dropped,” he added.
