MARGAO
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai has pooh-poohed the claim made by BJP State President Damu Naik on the signature projects in the Fatorda constituency, asserting that the only signature project executed by Damu Naik and Digambar Kamat was the acquisition of the fields of Madel farmers for a song to set up the controversial truck terminus.
He further said the Master Plan for Margao 2041 has been brought out with the sole objective of selling these prime fields for commercial exploitation.
Breaking his silence on the gauntlet thrown down by the BJP Chief challenging Sardesai to outline the signature projects ushered in Fatorda in the last 13 years, the Goa Forward Chief shot back: “I fail to understand what signature projects Damu Naik is talking about. All that I know is that Damu and Digambar were responsible for acquiring the fields of Madel, measuring 1.37 lakh square metres, when the duo were part of the BJP around 20 years ago. The GSUDA had acquired the fields by paying a pittance of Rs five per square metre.”
Apparently taking the battle to the enemy camp over the question of development in the Fatorda constituency, Sardesai questioned whether the replacement of the underground sewerage line, estimated to cost around Rs 300 crore, is not development or a signature project.
“When I decided to support the late Manohar Parrikar to form the new government in 2017, I insisted that the replacement of the underground North main sewage line be mentioned in the Common Minimum Programme. For, the line had devastated the paddy fields and destroyed the environment, posing a health hazard to the citizens,” he said.
He added: “Another major project that was set in motion by me in Fatorda is the remediation of the Sonsodo legacy dump yard. After forming the government in 2017, I insisted to CM late Parrikar to hold a media briefing at Sonsodo to set in motion the process to clear the decades-old dump. Today, Sonsodo has been cleared of the dump, giving relief to the citizens. Today, ruling politicians rush to Sonsodo to claim credit.”
