CANACONA
A visibly pleased Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Thursday said he had put forth a number of issues pertaining to developmental works of his Canacona constituency before union ministers
and the Lok Sabha Speaker during his recent visit to Delhi.
“I received greens signals on many issues, demands and development works pertaining only to Canacona. It is for the ministers concerned to present and get approvals for State-level issues and developmental works,” stated Tawadkar, at a news conference in Canacona.
Tawadkar along with Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar, GCA Vice President Shamba Naikdessai, ex-executive engineer Santosh Gaonkar had gone to Delhi for three days to meet various union ministers.
Tawadkar had also interacted with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and attended some of the ongoing Lok Sabha proceedings in Parliament.
Tawadkar and his delegation met nine union ministers, including Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Tribal Welfare Minister Arjun Munda and Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw during their three-day visit in Delhi.
HEALTH
Tawadkar met Union Minister for State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pawar to discuss the upgradation of the Canacona Community Health Centre.
“We wanted to know how best the central government schemes can be extended to improve healthcare in Canacona, particularly for touristic point of view. We also sought beach healthcare infrastructure development centre,” said Tawadkar.
Dr Pawar is reported to have advised Tawadkar to study the Kerala model of providing health awareness and training for youth in order to start healthcare centres in Canacona, stating it would help attract global tourists while simultaneously generating employment and assured to provide all assistance in setting up such infrastructure in Canacona.
ROADS
Tawadkar said he had persuaded Gadkari to expedite work on the four-Laning of NH66 to reduce the dangers faced by traffic in Canacona.
“The union minister agreed to sanction Rs 77 crore for land acquisition from Bendurdem (Qupem) to Char-Rasta (Canacona), a 14-km stretch and agreed in principle to erect a statue of Chatrapati Shivaji at the Traffic Island at the entrance of Manohar Parrikar Canacona Bypass Road (NH66) at Char-Rasta. The union minister would ensure NOC for the said work,” said Tawadkar.
COAST
Tawadkar called on Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and highlighted the issue of rapid sand and coast erosion of the Talpona-Galgibaga belt, adversely impacting the livelihood of locals and also severely damaging the Turtle Nesting Site.
“The union minister assured to take up rehabilitation of this coastal best under the Coastal Flood Damage Management Scheme of the central government and assured to earmark and sanction funds to the tune of Rs 200 crore for this project,” said Tawadkar.
TOURISM
The speaker also met Union Minister for State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi and the union minister for State for External Affairs to request them to provide financial assistance to preserve and showcase tribal heritage of Canacona to attract heritage tourism.
“After these ministers agreed to the proposal of the idea of developing permanent infrastructure, the Adarshgram site was proposed to set up a permanent Goa’s heritage cultural centre,” said Tawadkar.
RAILWAY
Tawadkar said the most important reason for his Delhi visit was to meet Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaisnaw.
“The union minister not only agreed to immediately resume the long-distance train halts at Canacona Railway Station of two trains (Trivandrum Netravati Express and Matsyagandha Mangalore Express), but also promised action to get the Gandhidham Nagercoil Express to halt at the Canacona station in 2-3 months. “The halt of the two long-distance trains will begin within a month and will go a long way to benefit commuters, especially after the commencement of Mopa Airport, and will help tourists coming to beaches in Canacona,” said Tawadkar.
WELFARE
Tawadkar said Union Minster of State For Rural Development and Steel Faggan Singh Khulaste gave in principle assurance to release funds for Entry Point Activity and rural development under the various central government schemes.
“When informed about the presence of lots of backward tribal people in Canacona who require help and assistance, Union Minister for Tribal Welfare Arjun Munda agreed to allot funds from central government schemes under Article 275, and asked me to route the request through the State government to do the needful,” said Tawadkar.
