the goan I network
CANACONA
Deputy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes on Thursday hit out at activists and a group of locals for their methods of highlighting issues in Canacona.
Addressing a news conference in Canacona, Fernandes strongly denounced the manner in which activists had subjected a PWD engineer and contractor to a bumpy ride in an ambulance over a stretch of road filled with potholes in Nagorcem-Canacona.
“I strongly condemn the manner in which a PWD engineer and contractor were forcefully bundled in an ambulance. The is not fair. There are better ways to protest certain issues. Why could they not have petitioned the MLA, the PWD minister or even the chief minister,” asked Fernandes.
“Potholed roads are not new to Canacona. We have had worse roads and we were forced to suffer in the past due to delayed attention from the different governments.”
“The potholed road at Nagorcem was a different situation. The potholes had developed to lay a water pipeline to resolve water supply problems faced by people of Canacona.”
“It was unavoidable and the most sensible solution was to level the road each time potholes developed till rains subsided to allow proper tarring/hot-mixing of the damaged road,” said the Canacona MLA.
Fernandes hit out at the activists for the “unnecessary hue and cry” in the matter.
“Everyone is aware that the road had been left after the pipeline work. Dur to heavy rains, the road deteriorated even though the PWD had tried to fill the potholes.”
“Would hasty tarring have withstood the heavy rains? It would have met with same fate and potholes would have developed afresh. When monsoons end, the road at Nagorcem will be suitable repaired. We should learn to bear a little inconvenience if we want development,” said Fernandes.
He also criticised people for their “unwarranted” demand to reinstate Dr Iona Barretto at the Canacona Community Health Centre (CHC), after her services had been recently terminated by the State government.
Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and I have spoken to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and he has assured to respond positively on the representation of the terminated doctor.
Denouncing the show of strength by some locals as unwarranted, Fernandes said: “The government has a responsibility and the process to reinstate the terminated doctor has to be done in a proper manner.”
