CANACONA
Asking opposition not to politicise the ‘Shram-dham’ initiative to build houses to the poor in Canacona, Sarpanchas of Cotigao and Agonda have rejected allegations against Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and warned that if Tawadkar is defamed, no one will dare come out to help the poor in Canacona.
Addressing a news conference at the Government Rest House at Shristhal, Agonda Sarpanch Fatima Rodrigues said the Shram-Dham is Tawadkar’s widely accepted initiative and they strongly support him in this endeavour.
“He got the wood needed to complete the houses before monsoon legally and as per procedure. People should not criticise for the sake of criticising,” said Rodrigues.
Cotigao Sarpanch Anandu Dessai said Tawadkar had got the wood from the forest department which had been auctioned and only after completion of all formalities, had taken the wood to be processed at the carpentry unit at Loliem.
“The Carpentry Unit Director concerned had all documents of the wood brought to be processed at the unit. Considering the urgency in completion of work, Forest Minister Vishwajeet Rane had also agreed to provide us the wood, if available with forest department. It will be provided in quick time so that Shram Dham houses will be completed before the monsoon,” said Dessai.
Canacona Vision-2030 Convenor Sidharth Dessai presented papers of forest clearances, including a transport pass of the wood to shift it from Mone-Gaondongrim to the Idhar-Loliem Carpentry unit.
He criticised the critics for attempting to make Tawadkar a scapegoat in the entire issue.
“The wood taken to the carpentry unit is for some houses being built under the Shram-Dham initiative. No tree has been felled cut and these trees got uprooted due to strong winds. These trees were obtained through auction from the forest department.”
“Tawadkar through his Shree Balram Charitable Foundation carried out all required formalities regarding the logs taken to the carpentry unit. Everything is legal and we have the papers to prove it,” said Dessai.
Former Shristhal sarpanch Datta (Pandurang) Gaonkar insisted that Tawadkar had done nothing wrong and had only used his powers to hasten the work of completing the houses built under Shram-Dham. Former Shristhal sarpanch Ganesh Velip was also present for the press meet.
