CANACONA
Deputy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes launched a series of development works in Poinguinim and Cotigao villages on Friday, amid growing demands to take up other pending works in the villages.
Fernandes launched the work to construct a gutter at Talpona in the presence of Poinguinim Sarpanch Jagdish Gaonkar.
“The demand for a gutter was pending for several years. Similar, we request our MLA to get the government to approve a drainage, as rainwater gushes into houses at Talpona,” stated the ward panch Rudresh.
He said the files for the gutter and drainage had been returned, but the MLA managed to get the gutter approved and work began on Friday.
Fernandes then proceeded to Mane-Cotigao to launch work to construct two culverts which were washed away during the Canacona 2009 floods at a cost of Rs 60 lakh. Cotigao Sarpanch Umesh Gaonkar along with Dy Sarpanch Bavika Desai were present at the event.
The sarpanch requested the MLA to get the government to approve two more culverts at Avem, Kuskem, which were also severely damaged.
A protection wall near Shri Mallikarjun Temple at Cotigao was also taken up for construction at a cost of Rs 13 lakh.
Residents also requested Fernandes to get authorities to repair a Portuguese-era Bhandara in the locality.
The Cotigao sarpanch further requested Fernandes to get the government to sanction an irrigation project worth Rs 1.5 crore in the village, as the demand had been pending since the last few years.
Responding to growing demands to take up other pending works in the villages, Fernandes made it clear that it is a challenge for the government to undertake new works on account of a severe financial crunch.
“It is only because of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's goodwill I am in a position to usher in new works when the government has enough money in its coffers,” said Fernandes.
Others present at the events included BJP Block President Nandip Bhagat, Secretary Damodar Chari and government officials.
