MARGAO
Will the imposing South Goa District Collectorate building, named after former Legislator and social activist late Matanhy Saldanha, finally get a fresh lease of life?
Well, with the toilets in pathetic condition, the doors not closing and the taps robbed and sewage overflowing in the complex, Salcete’s lone Minister Aleixo Sequeira seemed to have taken upon him the responsibility of restoring the district Collectorate’s lost glory.
This became evident at the Environment Minister’s Friday darbar when he pointblank told the contractor, who has bagged the contract to repair the toilet blocks, to either start the work immediately or quit.
The contractor’s plea that the government owes him huge outstanding money did not cut much ice with the Environment Minister, with Sequeira demanding to know from the contractor, why did he take up the contractor when the government owes him money for the previous works.
The Minister lost his cool after being informed that the work to repair the toilets had six-month validity and already two months have been lost with the work yet to kick start in the Collectorate building. “Why did you accept the tender if the government has not paid you the money,” he questioned.
Sequeira went to the extent of telling the contractor why he took up the work when the whole world knows that the Goa government has no money. “If you are not doing the work just because the government has not paid the previous bills, than give in writing that you cannot undertake the work. Some other contractor will execute the work. You are not indispensable if you think so,” he added.
When the contractor pointed out that he needs money to pump in funds into the Collectorate toilet work, the Minister point blank told him ‘don’t take up the work’.
The Minister cautioned the PWD, Junior Engineer that she would be held responsible for the execution of the work, instructing the engineer to inspect the toilet blocks today itself and get a bar chart from the contractor.
After the contractor agreed to start the work from January 20 in a phased manner, Sequeira sought to know when he will be able to use the toilet block during his weekly visit to the Collectorate for the Friday darbar.
When the contractor made a plea to the Minister to see that his bills are promptly cleared by the government, Sequeira pointblank shot back he would not take any responsibility for the payments. He, however, later assured that he would see that the government sanctions the funds for the works executed in the Collectorate.
The Environment Minister later told the media that he has discussed with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the PWD portfolio, the need to put things in order in the district Collectorate building. “I have taken up the issue of the district Collectorate building since the contractor was sleeping over the contract since last two months. “The toilets are in a pathetic condition, the doors are not closing, taps have been robbed. Miscreants have robbed whatever that is possible in the building. Then there is the issue of electrical connections and compound wall,” he added.
Environ Minister assures road in Utorda, says Railways told to acquire land
MARGAO: In a bid to resolve the road issue by the villagers on account of track doubling, Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira on Friday said the Railways will be told to acquire land for a road for the benefit of the villagers.
Saying there has been confusion in Utorda after the Railways built a retaining wall on land acquired by the Railways, as a result of which a road, which was being used by the local residents, no longer exists after the wall has come up at the site.
“There was confusion with two sets of opinions surfacing over the need for a road after the Railways built a retaining wall. The Railways were told to acquire land to build a road, but the proceedings were later dropped after difference of opinion over the road,” he said.
After a group of residents of Utorda, which falls in his Nuvem constituency, came to meet him at his Friday darbar in the Collectorate, Sequeira called the Railway officials to amicably resolve the issue.
The Minister later told the media that since the villagers are insisting on the road after the closure of the road following the construction of the retaining wall by the Railways, the latter has been requested to start land acquisition proceedings to build a road.
Sand mining issue in State will be resolved in 2 months: Aleixo
