Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who also holds the Urban Development portfolio, instructing Margao Municipal Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar to hold inspection of the discharge of sewage into the Comba storm water nullah. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
As Margao’s perennial issues including bed shortage at the South Goa district hospital and raw sewage flowing into the Comba storm water nullah took centre stage at the Sarkar Tumchya Daari on Saturday, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane assured the people that the government is working to upgrade the facilities and give tertiary status to the Hospicio South district hospital.
On the discharge of raw sewage, the Health Minister immediately issued directions to the Urban Development Officials and the Margao Municipal Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar to hold an inspection of the Comba sewage discharge by next week.
At the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, the Health Minister had to grapple with the two major issues as members of the public raised bed shortage, discharge of raw sewage at Comba, besides other administrative issues.
On the district hospital bed shortage and other issues, Rane conceded that the hospital is indeed facing bed shortage, while pointing out that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced to tide over the shortage by shifting the nursing college functioning from the hospital top floors to the old Hospicio building.
Around 60 people came with their grievances to the Minister for disposal, but the issues on the perennial issues took centre stage at the programme.
Madgangcho Aawaz leader Prabhav Naik drew attention of the Minister to the sewage discharge at Comba, not only polluting the fields and water bodies, but posing a health hazard to the local residents. Taking cognisance of his petition, Rane called MMC Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar and stressed on the need to hold an inspection. “There is no politics here. The issue need to be tackled”, Rane said, even has told Prabhav that the Secretary Urban Development will formally issued directions on Monday for a joint inspection of the sewage nullah.
Naik also raised the issue of strengthening the ambulances at the district hospital, while reiterating his demand to upgrade the hospital into a tertiary hospital. While saying that the government make available more ambulances at the disposal of the Hospicio, Rane unveiled plans to upgrade medical facilities at the district hospital with Cathlab and other equipment.
Activist Siddesh Bhagat raised the issue of bed shortage at the district hospital. When the Health Minister said the issue is being addressed, Bhagat said he can provide him a video of how patients were taking treatment on wheel chairs while he and the Chief Minister inagurated the MRI facility.
Bhagat also called for upgradation of the medical facilities at the Navelim Primary health centre.
A delegation of Aam Aadmi party also raised the issue of bed shortage and the discharge of sewage into the storm water nullah adjoining the district hospital.
Social activist Anthony D’Silva underscored the need to impart skill training to youth before inviting any industries to Goa, while journalist Arvind Tengse highlighted administrative issues concerning residence certificates faced by citizens.
Members of a women’s group made a representation to the Minister to identify and provide space for their activities under GSUDA
Rane later told the media that on the spot directions were issued to the officials to resolve the public grievances.
Referring to a complaint lodged for issuing sanad in an open space, the Minister has called for action, including FIR in the mater.
