PANAJI
Ahead of the by-poll scheduled on August 23, Chief Minister and BJP's candidate for Panaji Manohar Parrikar said that margin was not a concern for him and instead voter turnout was due to the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in Panaji, Parrikar said, "I don't think margin is a concern but I want good margin. I am asking for peoples' blessings for increasing the margin. They should come out and vote. One concern as the by-poll was close to Ganesh Chaturthi festival was that whether it would have an impact on the voter turnout. Now I am confident that they will come out and vote."
Informing that he got an opportunity to move around to meet people in the constituency, he said, "For this election, I got lot of time to meet people and understand their problems. We had about 120 informal meetings, which were more about discussions. On an average if you consider 30-35 persons per meeting, through 120 meetings I have reached out to nearly 4000 families and understood problems in respective areas. Once elections are over, we will clear the issues one by one."
When asked about things needed to be done in Panaji, he said, "There are two-three problems existing in Panaji. We need to find a permanent solution to garbage handling and treatment. Prior to elections, we have already started with the project in Bainguinim. We have tied up with NABARD for funding under IRD scheme. The work is expected to start within the next six months and is expected to be commissioned within one-and-a-half year. Till then, we have already started with a temporary solution."
Stating that traffic congestion is another problem, Parrikar said, "Traffic congestion has increased with the increasing number of vehicles in the last five years. In Panaji, the buildings too are old and do not have parking facilities. To address this, we have taken many steps like improving connectivity to Panaji and the new Mala Bridge. Secondly, schools have already been shifted outside the city and government offices too will be shifted. Additionally, parking facility would also be created at PWD garage in the city."
When asked about the existing multi-level car park not being utilised fully, he said, "Already the parking for casinos has been asked to be shifted there. As per what I have seen, it has been partially shifted. But we will monitor it to see that it is shifted entirely. Let them pay and stay there. That will be optimally utilised. Secondly, optimum utilisation will start when you prohibit parking on the roads in that area which is required for traffic circulation."
Questioned if he requires support from alliance partners in the by-poll, he said, "The alliance partners in a public meeting explained that it is they who have asked me to come back because they realised that in the interest of Goa everyone has to sacrifice including me. Now, after that, they too feel that it is their moral duty to ensure my win with a thumping majority. So definitely everyone counts."
Ahead of the by-poll scheduled on August 23, Chief Minister and BJP's candidate for Panaji Manohar Parrikar said that margin was not a concern for him and instead voter turnout was due to the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in Panaji, Parrikar said, "I don't think margin is a concern but I want good margin. I am asking for peoples' blessings for increasing the margin. They should come out and vote. One concern as the by-poll was close to Ganesh Chaturthi festival was that whether it would have an impact on the voter turnout. Now I am confident that they will come out and vote."
Informing that he got an opportunity to move around to meet people in the constituency, he said, "For this election, I got lot of time to meet people and understand their problems. We had about 120 informal meetings, which were more about discussions. On an average if you consider 30-35 persons per meeting, through 120 meetings I have reached out to nearly 4000 families and understood problems in respective areas. Once elections are over, we will clear the issues one by one."
When asked about things needed to be done in Panaji, he said, "There are two-three problems existing in Panaji. We need to find a permanent solution to garbage handling and treatment. Prior to elections, we have already started with the project in Bainguinim. We have tied up with NABARD for funding under IRD scheme. The work is expected to start within the next six months and is expected to be commissioned within one-and-a-half year. Till then, we have already started with a temporary solution."
Stating that traffic congestion is another problem, Parrikar said, "Traffic congestion has increased with the increasing number of vehicles in the last five years. In Panaji, the buildings too are old and do not have parking facilities. To address this, we have taken many steps like improving connectivity to Panaji and the new Mala Bridge. Secondly, schools have already been shifted outside the city and government offices too will be shifted. Additionally, parking facility would also be created at PWD garage in the city."
When asked about the existing multi-level car park not being utilised fully, he said, "Already the parking for casinos has been asked to be shifted there. As per what I have seen, it has been partially shifted. But we will monitor it to see that it is shifted entirely. Let them pay and stay there. That will be optimally utilised. Secondly, optimum utilisation will start when you prohibit parking on the roads in that area which is required for traffic circulation."
Questioned if he requires support from alliance partners in the by-poll, he said, "The alliance partners in a public meeting explained that it is they who have asked me to come back because they realised that in the interest of Goa everyone has to sacrifice including me. Now, after that, they too feel that it is their moral duty to ensure my win with a thumping majority. So definitely everyone counts."
