MARGAO
Saying Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has an open mind on the controversial Colva pay parking project, Salcete’s lone Minister Aleixo Sequeira on Friday asserted that the government should exempt the vehicles owned by Goans from the parking fees at the world class Colva beach.
When the media drew his attention at his Friday’s darbar at the district Collectorate building on the government’s stand on the parking row at Colva with opposition building up against the project, Sequeira said he has discussed the issue with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. He, however, conceded that it is difficult to take a decision overnight on the issue given that the government has floated the tender and has awarded the work order to the contractor. “There are some legal issues that need to be resolved. The government requires little time to resolve the issue,” he said.
When asked whether the Chief Minister has agreed in principle to scrap the Colva pay parking project, Sequeira shot back, “The CM has not agreed in principle to scrap the project. But the CM has underscored the need to sit down to study the issue. The Chief Minister has an open mind on the issue. He is open for discussions. That way Pramod Sawant is proactive.”
While saying it would not be possible to scrap the project in toto, the Environment Minister, however, asserted that he is of the honest opinion that vehicles of Goan people should be exempted from the parking project.
