the goan I network
OLD GOA
As promised, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai accompanied by WRD Minister Vinod Palyekar inspected the Bondovall Lake, on Wednesday, and also heard the grievances of the locals who have been involved in a fight to save the lake
from destruction.
The inspection by the ministers comes after locals from Santa Cruz and surrounding villages had met the TCP minister, and requested him to inspect the lake to see for himself the violations being carried out, which is endangering the natural heritage of the village.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, Sardesai informed that he has brought along with him the WRD minister because the issue concerns water resources of
the State.
“This is a Portuguese era irrigation system which needs to be conserved and cannot be allowed to be destroyed because of one tenant,” he stated, while informing that his ministry will not give any permission for development around the lake.
“We have already acted on the land filling activities and FIRs in this regard have been filed with the police and the biodiversity board,”
Sardesai added.
“We will try to get consent from both the comunidade and the tenant so that the land is acquired and the Bondovall lake is preserved,” he
further stated.
When questioned what will be the course of action if the tenant refuses to give consent for land acquisition, Sardesai informed that the question will arise later. “We will offer a good rehabilitation package for the tenant so that their standard of living changes for the better,” he added.
“If though, the tenant refuses then the government will take legal recourse for acquiring the land,” he stated, while adding that it will be a
lengthy process.
WRD chief engineer Nadkarni, senior town planner Rajesh Naik and other officials were present, along with over hundred villagers from Santa Cruz and surrounding villages.
Vijai lashes out at Goa Bachao Abhiyaan
OLD GOA: TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai hit out at the Goa Bachao Abhiyaan (GBA) for questioning his ‘goemkarponn’ by asking what is being done to protect the natural springs and natural heritage of the State.
Speaking to the media in Santa Cruz after the Bondovall lake inspection, Sardesai said the GBA only makes statements but he acts on the statement.
“Within 3-4 hours after the statement appeared in the media, I came here for inspection of the Bondovall lake,” Sardesai opined, while chiding the GBA’s absence.
“If GBA is concerned about the natural heritage, they should have been the first to reach here,” he added.
“This is the government that works. They make statements but we act on their statement. Our actions speak louder than words,” he concluded.
