PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday interacted with grassroot politicians in Goa's 190-odd village panchayats via video-conferencing where he stressed on building community capabilities and upping the self-sufficiency quotient in food and other basic necessities.
During the interaction, Sawant told the panchayat representatives that edifices and other historic sites in rural Goa, particularly those linked to the freedom struggle against Portuguese rule will be refurbished and restored as part of the State's 60th year of Liberation celebrations.
Goa has been allocated a Rs 300 crore one-time grant for the celebrations by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the 2021-22 budget she presented to Parliament last month.
Sawant, whose government has been facing stiff opposition and resistance from a cross section of Goa's population protesting against projects which have taken up the State's scarce land resource, also told the panchayat representatives to identify unutilized government land and buildings in their jurisdiction so that these can be utilized to create resourceful community assets.
Forts and homes of freedom fighters are on the government's radar for renovation by utilising the funds sanctioned by the Centre for Goa Liberation's 60th year celebrations, he added.
"I request you to identify all unused government land and buildings in your respective panchayat areas. We can restore and renovate them into assets for the community," Sawant said.
Dilapidated buildings owned by the government will be restored to convert them into community assets needed by the village he said, adding that the State government will also renovate monuments and preserve historic places to inspire youth.
"Not a single structure related to Goa's liberation struggle should be left without renovation or repair by December 19, 2021. All these structures will be restored and renovated," Sawant said.
Meanwhile, Sawant told the sarpanchas and other panchayat members that their village local bodies will be sanctioned a grant of Rs 50 lakh if they submit their reports by February 28 on the Swayampurna Goem programme.
"So far 156 panchayats have already submitted the reports, but some panch members and sarpanchas are not cooperating. Lowest number of reports have been received from panchayats in Sanguem taluka,” Sawant said.
