MARGAO
Coming out strongly against the ensuing Zilla panchayat polls, senior Congress leader and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro on Monday said the government’s decision to hold the ZP polls on December 12 is blatantly wrong at a time when Covid cases have been rising by the day.
During a chat with the media after launching the work on a retaining wall near the military camp, Rawanfond, at a cost of Rs 34 lakh, Faleiro said the government should reconsider the decision, saying this is not the right time to go in for the ZP polls.
“Covid infections are on the rise. On one hand, the government is imposing section 144 and stresses on social distancing. The government says the voters infected with coronavirus can cast their vote in the last hour of polling, but will this move not pose a health hazard for the staff on election duty”, he asked.
Saying the government’s decision to hold the polls on December 12 is against the interests of the people, Faleiro said the government should immediately reconsider the decision.
When questioned whether Congress has any plans to challenge the same in court, Faleiro shot back saying the question can be directed at GPCC Chief Girish Chodankar.
Meanwhile, Faleiro reminded that he had first raised the issue of coal handling and transportation in the Goa Legislative Assembly on December 16, 2017, when people from his Navelim constituency had complained of coal powder settling in their houses.
“That time, then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar tried to mock at me without realizing the seriousness of the issue. I am happy that the issue has now taken centre stage and has become a big movement,” he said while reiterating his strong opposition to coal handling and transportation in the state.
Meanwhile, Faleiro launched the work of retention wall near the military camp, Rawanfond, costing Rs 34 lakh.
The Navelim MLA pointed out that the work will help avoid flooding of the fields as well as the main road passing through the military camp.
