Govt pressed to adopt a long-term strategy to cut expenditure
MAPUSA
Desilting of rivers and nullahs came under scrutiny in the Goa Legislative Assembly, with opposition members questioning the frequency of such works and urging the government to adopt a long-term strategy to prevent repeated expenditure of public funds.
Responding to the concerns, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar clarified that desilting is generally not carried out at the same locations every year unless necessitated by the geographical nature of the terrain.
“Normally when desilting is done, it is not required the next year. However, in some areas the work has to be repeated annually because of the geographical characteristics of the land,” Shirodkar told the House.
The minister was replying to concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, who alleged that in several instances locations where desilting was carried out were again taken up for the same work soon after.
Alemao questioned the procedure followed by the Water Resources Department (WRD) in undertaking desilting operations in rivers and nullahs.
He also asked whether the department could adopt a long-term strategy while executing such works instead of repeatedly taking up the same projects year after year, which, he said, could result in wasteful expenditure of public money.
Shirodkar also informed the House that desilting of the channel near Goa Shipyard Limited will be taken up next month and is expected to be completed within a month.
The minister further assured that work to develop the Maimollem Lake, including the construction of a walking track around the lake, will also be initiated.
He was responding to concerns raised by Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar regarding the need for improving local water bodies and surrounding infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar lauded the minister for taking up the long-pending cleaning work of the Mormugao creek, which had become foul-smelling and had remained neglected for several years.
Shirodkar also said that he personally monitors all WRD projects costing more than Rs 1 crore and conducts regular inspections to ensure that the works are executed properly.
