MARGAO
Days after the government constituted a panel to look into the rehabilitation of the slum dwellers at the migrant-inhabited Moti Dongor, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat on Tuesday thundered atop the hillock that as long as he is there no one will dare raze down even one structure at Moti Dongor.
“We have seen WhatsApp messages being circulated on social media that Moti Dongor structures will go for demolition. These people do not know the history and background of Moti Dongor and the existence of the structures atop the hillock over the years. I want to tell all these people that as long as Digambar Kamat is there, no one will dare touch the structures”, he thundered at the inauguration of Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandir at Moti Dongor at the hands of the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.
The health wellness centre is the second facility set up at the migrant inhabited area after a police outpost in the last four months.
While Rane and health officials descended at Moti Dongor with the avowed objective of opening the health facility for the local populace, the Margao MLA used the platform to refresh the memory of the inhabitants how he had saved them around 40 years ago after the government headed by former CM Pratapsing Rane issued a notification notifying Moti Dongor as a slum area under the Slum Act 1960.
“Youngsters from Moti Dongor, who are circulating messages on social media, that their houses are going for demolition do not know the history of the area. But, I clearly remember that the government had issued notices for the demolition of the Moti Dongor structures when I had just become a Councillor of the Margao Municipality. The former CM had told then Collector Shakti Sinha to keep the demolition on hold. In fact, Rane had offered to rehabilitate the inhabitants of the 280 houses at the Housing Board area on instalment facility, but your leaders all decided to stay put at Moti Dongor since the locality is close to the main city”, he said.
Kamat said the wellness centre will cater to the health requirements of the migrant inhabitants, saying the Health Minister has promised to air-condition the premises in the coming day. “We believe in sab ka saath, sab ka vishwas by taking all the communities together irrespective of caste and creed”, he added.
In his address, Rane said there cannot be politics in the health sector, insisting that justice and health facilities need to be provided for all sections of society. “There may be rumours floated by some people that the Moti Dongor structures will be demolished. Don’t fall prey to these rumours. Kamat has said there is a government notification in place and this notification will save you. We are committed to take health to the door steps of the people. People of Moti Dongor will get all the facilities”, Rane asserted.
