MARGAO: Sounding a warning that the government will be forced to withdraw exemptions to Margao-based schools to accommodate students beyond the prescribed capacity in the wake of the opposition to the school education hub at Davorlim, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday posed a counter question to those opposing the proposed education hub: Why should Madgavkars suffer of pollution and congestion because of cars and vehicles that bring village children to the city schools? What answer should I give if people of Margao start agitating that they will not accept children from the villages in the city-based schools because they bring their children in cars and create congestion. All these issues are interlinked. Those opposing the project should not talk in a casual way?
The Chief Minister, however, said the government is ready to look into the infrastructural needs of
Davorlim village, but sent a veiled message that the government will not buckle under pressure just
because the people have adopted a resolution opposing the education hub at Davorlim. "If the villagers have any infrastructure issues, the government is ready to look into provided they give it in writing.
Resolutions will not help solve the issue. Are your children not going to schools," Parrikar posed a direct query, while saying the government has not yet taken a final call on the proposal to shift the Margao-based schools to Davorlim village.
Saying that he was taken by surprise that there's opposition to an education hub, the Chief Minister
attributed Margao's traffic congestion to students coming from the villages. "Nearly 60-70 students in the city schools are from the neighbouring vilages. If there is congestion with some of the schools not even having a playground, one option is to shift the schools to the education hub or the schools will have to reduce the intake capacity. Every year, the government give exemptions to the schools to take more students. We will have no option than to withdraw the exemption and the people will be the sufferers," he added.
When the media drew his attention that the people are opposing the education hub because of lack of infrastructure and they want the land for projects beneficial to the village, Parrikar shot back "creating infrastructure is the responsibility of the government. We will spend on money on infrastructure. Who has told the people that the government will not create the infrastructure".
When pointed out that Davorlim villages have been asked for a portion of the acquired land for waste sorting and the Holy Cross Chapel inside the property, Parrikar asked "can there be schools near waste sorting site. The government can find alternate place for waste segregation for the village".
When further pointed out that the villagers had been asking with the government to leave a portion of the Holy Cross Chapel located inside the acquired property, Parrikar said the Chapel can be shifted out of the acquired land. "The government has acquired the land. Form I & XIV now shows the owner as the government. The Chapel can be shifted somewhere else", Parrikar said, while saying the government is willing to solve any problem, adding "we never said the government will not solve their problems".
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ROARING CHIEF MINISTER
* Resolutions will not help solve the issue. Are your children not going to schools?
* Those opposing the project should not talk in a casual way
* Will not buckle under pressure just because people have adopted a resolution
* We will have no option than to withdraw the exemption and the people will be the sufferers
* Who has told the people that the government will not create the infrastructure
