Says his style of working different from others
the goan I network
MARGAO
That many a former Tourism Minister or Water Resources Minister in the past had only paid lip service to the contaminated Colva creek, Palyekar indeed had to go out of the way to reassure the villagers that he would do justice.
The minister was in the tourist village on Monday morning to launch the exhibition of cleaning and restoration of Villa Nova creek by Kafmar Environmental Services. Palyekar was impressed by the initiative of Caesar and Dizzy Fernandes of Kafmar Environmental Services in cleaning up the water bodies of silt and waste.
While the WRD Minister had a smooth sailing at the Villa Nova creek, when he expressed satisfaction over the work put in by the Rs 1.5 crore desilting machine, Palyekar was virtually taken aback when he landed at the Colva creek located right at the entrance of the world famous beach.
Kentucky owner Mathew Diniz reminded the minister that Colva has been completely ignored by successive tourism ministers over the years. “Nothing has been happening in Colva. People of Colva have only received assurances from successive governments. Colva is facing a big problem, but the beach has been a neglected. We fail to understand why Colva does not find mention in the scheme of things of the state government,” Mathew wondered.
He told the Minister that since there’s a change in political guard and with people having elected Churchill Alemao as the new Benaulim MLA, the people of Colva are indeed looking for a change. “If the Colva creek is desilted and cleaned up, the government can earn revenue by starting water sports, including pedal boating,” Mathew added.
The Minister promised to bring about a turnaround at Colva, saying that his working style is different from others. Colva Sarpanch Menino Fernandes said the panchayat will pursue the Colva creek issue with the Water Resources Minister. “With the good office of Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, we will get the government spruce up the creek. Though Colva is a big tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists, the Tourism Department has paid scant attention to Colva. Even the cleanliness at the beach square is being carried out by the water sports operators for want of any help
and assistance from the tourism department,” the Sarpanch stated.
