MARGAO
His dream to make it to the Legislative Assembly for the second time from Navelim came a cropper around a month ago on March 11 when the election results heralded the return of former minister and MLA Luizinho Faleiro back to the constituency after a 10-year break.
The sturdy built football goalkeeper and former fisheries minister Avertano Furtado, however, seems to have taken the election result in his stride. He is not only back, but has now hit the streets supervising works sanctioned during his stint as minister in Navelim constituency, now represented by State Congress president Luizinho Faleiro, thanks to the return of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at the helm of affairs.
Thursday saw Avertano going about launching road hot-mixing works in the Housing Board area at Rumdamol, before interacting with the residents of the Housing Board who were complaining against the erection of an illegal tower in a residential locality.
As his presence in the Housing Board area on Thursday morning took many a resident and political observers aback, Avertano sought to explain that he has come to launch works on the road projects, all sanctioned by the previous government before the coming into force of the election code of conduct.
“Before the election code of conduct came into force, I had got sanctioned a host of projects in Navelim, including the road hot-mixing works in the entire constituency. These works could not be executed because of the election code. Since the code now stands lifted, all the roads in Navelim constituency, beginning with the Housing Board, will be hot mixed at the earliest possible time,” Avertano told the media.
What’s significant to note is the fact that Avertano has once again took up cudgels for the residents of the Housing Board opposing the mobile tower in a residential locality. “I had got the mobile tower work stopped when I was a minister. But, I have been approached by the residents that work has resumed without any permissions,” Avertano said, adding that he would stand by the people of the Housing Board if anyone tries to bulldoze their way with the illegal mobile tower.
And, before leaving the Housing Board, Avertano came with a parting short, announcing that his office in Navelim will remain open for the public. “Though I lost the election, thousands of people had voted for me in the election. My office will remain open for my voters and supporters and I will take up their works with the government,” he said.
With the former fisheries minister making known his intention to stay put in Navelim politics, it’s now clear that Avertano will supervise and get the host of pending projects executed which had got the stamp of approval during his stint as MLA.
“Yes, I will personally ensure that all the projects sanctioned during my tenure are implemented, including the half-a-dozen football grounds, the flyover at Davorlim, road and sewerage works, road widening works, et al,” Avertano said.
