VENKATESH NAIK'S SALVO
The local body was kept in the dark about Ponda sewarage project
The mini-sewerage project in Vrindawan garden at Warkhande is a failure
Sudin says water treated at Warkhande looks like mineral water; Dada says reality proves Dhavalikar wrong and that the people are fed up with the project
MGP leaders least bothered about taking people into confidence
‘Dada’ dares MGP to break alliance
Says MGP leaders always make statements that aspiring Assembly candidates create hurdles to development
THE GOAN NETWORK
PONDA
Ponda Municipal Councillor Venkatesh alias Dada Naik has challenged the MG Party leaders to withdraw support to the BJP government, if they are facing problems from the BJP supporters.
Reacting strongly to allegations of PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar and Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar that Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) was responsible for stalling the sewerage plant in the city, Naik said, “The local body was kept in the dark about the project. The previous mini-sewerage project in Vrindawan garden at Warkhande was a failure,” he said.
“According to Dhavalikar, water treated from the sewerage plant is so clean that it looks like mineral water, but we have seen the reality at Warkhande and it proves the minister wrong. People are fed up with this project,” Naik said.
Dada, a prominent figure in Ponda, had frequently levelled counter allegations against MLA Mamledar, but he also hit out at Dhavalikar over the issue of the sewerage treatment plant.
It may be recalled that Dhavalikar during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the sewerage plant at Kavalem had targeted the PMC. MLA Mamledar had said some de-facto councillors, believed to be from the BJP and independents, had obstructed developmental works in Ponda. Venkatesh Naik had shared the dais with MG Party leaders.
Speaking to media persons, Naik said he withdrew his nomination in the last assembly election only to elect Mamledar.
“But now they are targeting us unnecessarily. If they have a problem with the local BJP leaders, they should break the alliance,” Naik suggested.
“MG Party leaders always make statements that aspiring candidates for assembly election are creating hurdles for developmental works. They should name those persons,” insisted Naik.
Naik clarified that they had not opposed any project, but accused MG Party leaders of failing to take PMC into confidence while going ahead with the sewerage plant.
“We have to take the people into confidence before taking up any project, but the MG Party leaders are least bothered about this,” Naik said.
It may be recalled that on several occasions, Dhavalikar had praised Dada for managing the garbage in the city, but the ‘cold war’ between Dada and Mamledar was visible over the sopo tax issue. Mamledar has been supporting the vendors, while Naik has stood by PMC's move.
