MARGAO
Guess how come the VIP chamber on the fourth floor of the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative Complex in the South Goa district Collectorate suddenly came alive and bustled with activity on Friday?
Well, perhaps after more than a decade or so, a Minister hailing from Saxtti has finally made his presence felt in the Chamber to listen to the grievances of people from the minority heartland.
Congress-turned-BJP Nuvem MLA, who was recently rewarded with a Ministerial berth in the Pramod Sawant Cabinet, made his presence felt in the Minister’s chamber in the district Collectorate on Friday.
Take note, Sequeira has plans to visit the Minister’s chamber every Friday to hear the grievances of Saxttikars. Saxtti’s lone Minister in the BJP-led government has plans to increase his presence in the Collectorate even twice a week, but depending on the public response.
Though a host of Ministers from minority Salcete had found a place in the BJP governments over the years, this is perhaps the first time that a Minister has unveiled plans to visit the district Collectorate on a weekly basis.
If sources are to be believed, Sequeira’s presence at the Minister’s chamber in the district Collectorate is certainly not by chance. Before he made his presence felt on Friday, the Environment Minister had an interaction with the concerned officials to ensure that they all remain present in the Collectorate during his visit.
With Officer on Special Duty Agnelo Fernandes in tow, Aleixo walked into the Minister’s Chamber on Friday morning where he was joined by Additional Collector-I Srinet Kothawale, Deputy Collector Uday Prabhudesai. Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Margao DySP Santosh Desai, besides Maina-Curtorim police station in-charge, PI Arun Desai also came to see the Minister during the later part of the day.
Tourism Deputy Director, Dhiraj Vagle too was seen in the Minister’s chamber and his presence was attributed to the fact that the tourism stakeholders from Salcete coastal belt aggrieved with the Tourism Department’s pay parking project at Colva, besides the shack owners were also scheduled to call on the Environment Minister.
“From today, I have started visiting the district Collectorate, South to hear public grievances and get them resolved. I will visit the Minister’s chamber every Friday. If need be, I am ready to come and hear the public grievances twice a week,” Sequeira said.
