PANAJI
Despite the outcry over the 5% water tariff hike, the State government stuck to its guns but clarified that the first 16,000 liters of water will continue to be free as announced earlier.
"The 5 percent water tariff hike will be applicable for those using more than 16,000 liters of water per month," said PWD minister Nilesh Cabral.
Parrying all questions, Cabral said he will soon come out with a "white paper" bringing out consumption patterns of the water consumers across the State.
The government has brought into effect a 5 per cent hike in water tariffs effective from October 1 and has also introduced a prospective 5% increase to come into force every year at the start of the financial year (April 1).
The move earned the government high-decibel criticism from the Opposition parties on Sunday, with many taunting it for hoodwinking Goa public by promising free water before the February assembly elections and introducing the hike after.
Meanwhile, Cabral, on a high with the Rs 2000-odd crore booster from the Central Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for the various highway widening projects, on Monday said that the work for the highway on stilts in Porvorim will be tendered in the next four months.
He also said, that on highways within the jurisdiction of Goa, toll may not be charged
"The National highways are built in Goa in the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode with Central funding and not on the Build, Operate and Transfer mode which entails toll fee payment by users," Cabral said.
Meanwhile, short of saying 'mea culpa', Cabral virtually admitted complicity and blame vis-a-vis the recent road mishaps on the highway at Pernem.
Cabral said, the government had failed to acquire the entire requisite land and hand over to the contractor.
"Government is at fault too the entire land was not acquired and given to the contractors to build the structure. Land is being acquired in small patches," Cabral said, adding that the contractor may also be at fault.
The minister said, he has issued instructions for necessary corrective measures.
