Most spending on AI labs for schools, playgrounds, ambulances and repairing cemeteries
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha launching a hearse van service at Cuncolim.
Photo Credits: The Goan/File photo
MARGAO
Artificial intelligence laboratories and computers, laptops, projectors and UPS to educational institutions, development of playgrounds, crematoriums and burial grounds, provision of ambulances and hearse vans, besides three-wheeler scooters to the differently abled persons et al.
Projects rained in the South Goa constituency in the last five years under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme of MP Francisco Sardinha.
As curtains come down on the five-year term of the incumbent legislator, a glance at the list of MPLAD projects compiled by the administration showed that a whopping 114 development projects were sanctioned by the South Goa MP at an estimated cost of Rs 1820.65 lakhs. Of the total projects, around 90 of the sanctioned works stand completed, while work on the remaining 24 projects is presently underway in different areas of the constituency.
The four-time sitting MP takes pride in listing out the impressive statistics of projects initiated by him in the last five years and does not stop reminding that he also utilised the balance funds amounting to Rs 2.63 crore left unused by his predecessor.
A further glance at the statistics reveals that the South Goa MP like his counterparts had to go without the MPLAD funds for a full financial year as the funds were diverted by the central government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides Rs five crore diverted to COVID-19 during the financial year 2020-21, an instalment of Rs 50 lakh was also diverted for COVID-19 during the financial year 2021-22.
“I have exhausted the MPLAD funds by sanctioning projects under the scheme. Those who had approached my office with proposals were given the projects. I cannot help those who did not come with proposals,” Sardinaha said.
A perusal of the developments works compiled by the administration reveals that the South Goa MP spent a good part of the MPLAD fund to set up artificial intelligence laboratories with hardware, besides computers, laptops, etc, for the educational institutions. “Whenever I received proposals from the educational institutions from the rural areas for the supply of computers and other equipment, I did not say no for the reason that students in the rural schools also require the infrastructure in respect of computers and artificial intelligence,” he said.
Differently-abled persons also benefited from the MPLAD scheme of the South Goa MP. Over 45 differently-abled persons received customised three-wheeler scooters.
Interestingly, funds were also spent to cover roadside drainages in several villages across the constituency. Sardinha defended spending on the concrete slabs to cover roadside drainages, saying that the exercise has helped in the expansion of the narrow roads. He said the funds were spent on this head following proposals received from the local bodies.
Ambulances were provided to the South Goa district hospital, and the Primary Health Centre, Curtorim, besides an ambulance to the coastal village of Cavelossim. Similarly, work on cemeteries was taken up in the villages of Seraulim, Rivona, Maina-Curtorim, Sanguem, Davorlim for the dead to rest in peace.
“I am satisfied that I was able to take up so many works under the MPLAD scheme during my five-year stint in office. I have sanctioned projects for the schools to equip the students with the latest in artificial intelligence, and computers. The distribution of three-wheeler scooters for the differently-abled will go a long way in making them independent,” Sardinha said.
