MAPUSA
The infrastructural works in the State took off from 2012 and got further impetus after Narendra Modi took over as the PM, said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant suggesting that infra projects in Goa got a massive push only in the last 10 years.
Sawant, on Sunday, also said that his government believed in the politics of vikas (development) rather than indulging in divisive politics.
“Infra development got a push when former CM, late Manohar Parrikar government, came to power in 2012. But the infrastructural projects took a huge leap after (Narendra) Modi came to power in 2014 and the Centre sanctioned Rs 20,000 crore to Goa. Roads, government buildings, bridges, highways etc were developed in a big way,” Sawant said.
The chief minister was addressing a gathering at the ‘Sarkar Tumchya Dari’ (governance to the doorstep) programme at St Thomas HSS campus in Aldona in the presence of the local MLA, Glenn Ticlo, ZPs Manisha Naik and Diksha Kanolkar, sarpanchas and panchayat members.
Sawant said former chief minister, late Dayanand Bandodkar, built schools in all the villages soon after Goa was liberated in 1961, but for the last 50 years, nobody even painted these schools.
“Look at your schools in villages. If renovation of these schools has happened for the first time, it was from 2012,” he said.
He further said the ongoing projects like the national highway work from Pernem to Canacona, Mopa international airport, Canacona bypass, Sada-Varunapuri highway bear testimony to the stress the government has given on infra development in the State.
“I can understand people have been facing a lot of difficulties while travelling from Pernem to Mapusa but when we carry out such massive development works we have to be ready to face certain inconveniencies,” he said and assured to inaugurate the NH on Dec 19.
The chief minister said his government focused on the politics of vikas (development) and not politics of caste or religion.
“We do not want to do divisive politics. For a lot of people, you are a Hindu, Christian, Muslim…We have never done this. We have never discriminated among people. PM Modi went to the Vatican City and met the Pope which was appreciated by everyone,” he said.
Sawant said the payment on some of the social welfare schemes may have been delayed but assured to clear all pending monies by December 31.
“We have not stopped the social welfare schemes. It may have got delayed but not stopped. All monies of every scheme like the DSSS, Griha Adhar, Ladli Laxmi etc will be cleared by Dec 31,” Sawant said.
He said the amount of subsidies offered by the Goa government was more than any other State in the country and the power rate per unit in Goa was cheaper than any other State.
Earlier, Aldona MLA, Glenn Ticlo and North Goa Vice President Franky Carvalho also addressed the gathering.
