Mapusa failed on development, ready to rectify mistakes: CM

“I accept that Mapusa has fallen short considerably on the development front. We have realised the mistakes we have committed the last time. This time we will rectify it,” Sawant said.

“Within a year, we will speed up development projects and in the next five years, we will give preference to Mapusa just like Panaji was given smart city preference,” he added.

The chief minister was responding to a query that despite having a massive mandate in the Mapusa Municipal Council during the past five years, the BJP had failed to bring about any significant development in the city.

Continuing, Sawant said one of the reasons for failing to take up the works could be because the past council may have failed to take initiatives in Mapusa.

“There could be a lot of reasons. Maybe Babush’s (former Mapusa MLA late Francis D’Souza) health may have not permitted him to focus or the municipality may have not taken initiative. I am accepting it,” he said.

The chief minister was moving from one ward to the other holding corner meetings and campaigning for the candidates of BJP panel “ Mapusa Development Front.

He said there was no doubt whatsoever that the BJP panel will get full majority in the Mapusa Municipal Council in this civic election.

“We have given equal push to all candidates. A lot of people will be shown their place in this election. We are confident to unfurl the BJP flag on the MMC,” Sawant said, when queried whether he was campaigning for only weak candidates.

He said the government was keen to come up with the Ravindra Bhavan project in Mapusa if someone can identify land.

“I have mentioned Ravindra Bhavan for Mapusa in this budget also. But we are not getting land with clear title. The MLA is also trying. The communidade and others are there. If they give us land we can build the project within 10 months,” he said.