MARGAO
As he braces up for his induction in the Pramod Sawant government to start his new innings with a Ministerial berth, Curtorim Independent MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has promised to resolve the Sonsodo imbroglio, provide jobs to the unemployed youth from his constituency and usher in the overall development of Curtorim.
How the four-time MLA grapples with the issues plaguing the State, including the contentious three-linear projects, which he had vigorously pursued during the last one decade which had catapulted him as a pan-Goa leader, remains to be seen as the Independent MLA is yet to speak his mind out how he would go about with these issues once he forms part of the Cabinet.
Reginaldo seemed to have accorded priority in resolving the Sonsodo mess. Says the four-time Curtorim MLA: “Every election, we assure the people of Margao, Fatorda and Curtorim that Sonsodo would be resolved and addressed, but in vain. When Digambar Kamat became the Chief Minister, he visited Sonsodo in short pants to take stock of the situation. After a decade, when Vijai Sardesai supported the BJP government, he promised to do something. Every time, we had extended our support to the government of the day to resolve Sonsodo.”
He added: “Now, since I will be hopefully part of the Pramod Sawant government, I will take up the initiative with renewed vigour. We will find out the bottleneck that has come in the way of addressing Sonsodo and work out a solution. I am serious in addressing the issue.”
Reginaldo on Friday descended at Sonsodo after people of the Bhagbatt area of Raia village complained of foul odour from the dump. After an inspection of the site, Reginaldo has suggested spraying chemicals on the site during the shifting of the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) to keep the odour at bay as a temporary solution.
The Independent MLA says that the foul odour can be tackled by spraying chemicals. “I am not for a confrontation with the Margao Municipality, but for close coordination to address the issue,” he said.
From Sonsodo, Reginaldo headed back to Curtorim where the PWD has launched the hot-mixing of internal roads in the constituency at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore.
He has called a meeting with agricultural farmers and engineers to address the issues before the year-end. “We are here to perform or perish. Performance will be a key factor this time. What I had promised during election will be implemented,” he said.
Aware that the journey ahead may not be a smooth ride, Reginaldo was frank in admitting that there are a lot of enemies who will try to derail him, but exuded confidence that the will not be a deterrent to him in fulfilling the promise.
“With God’s blessings and people’s support with me, we will try and resolve all the issues. Come what may we will resolve the issues. I will concentrate on providing jobs for the unemployed and usher in the development of my constituency,” he added.
