MARGAO
Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira lost his cool at his weekly Friday darbar at the South District Collectorate over the issue of regularisation of unauthorised houses, with the Minister telling a senior official that he may leave if he is getting irritated and upset by the discussion.
In fact, the Environment Minister told the official to go to his office as his presence at the discussion was not required.
That’s not all. Sequeira even told the officials that he would brief Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on the issue and may even stop coming to the Minister’s chamber, saying he would be happy not to come to the District Collectorate since he would be stepping on the portfolios of his colleagues.
“Let’s simplify the process. If there is no intention to solve the issue, I will tell the Chief Minister that I can’t handle this. If you don’t want me to come here, I will stop coming. I don’t care. In fact, I will be happy if I don’t come since I am stepping on the portfolios of my colleagues, with the issue of regularisation coming under the Revenue department,” he told the officials.
South Goa District Collector Asvin Chandru, Additional Collector-I Srinet Kothawale, Deputy Collector Uday Prabhudesai, Deputy Collector Nipanekar, Town Planner Sandeep, PWD Superintending Engineer Prasad Panandikar were amongst the officials present during discussions on the issue.
Sequeira apparently lost his cool after the concerned officials insisted that a panel is in place to take a call on the regularisation of unauthorised houses with guidelines on how to go about the work.
The Minister had called the concerned officials, including the Deputy Collector, officials of the TCP, PWD, and Electricity to discuss and deliberate on how to dispose of the pending applications for the regularisation of the unauthorised houses in Salcete taluka.
When an official explained that PWD’s presence is required and went on explaining terms such as built-up area and super built-up area, Sequeira said, “Let us simplify the process. If you want to complicate the process, I can give you many ideas.”
When the official remarked that one has to follow the general practice, Sequeira shot back. “Hell with your general practice. We can change the general practice. If you have the will, we can solve so many problems. If there is no will, we cannot solve anything.”
He added: “If you want to go with a magnifying glass, you will not be able to dispose of even one case. You have to understand the spirit behind the order. If your intention is clear, you can walk the extra mile to help somebody.”
The Environment Minister later told the media that the authorities got down to the discussions on how to streamline the process of regularisation of unauthorised houses so that people avail benefits as per the government decision.
Can't go against HC order: Aleixo on Sunburn issue
Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira on Friday said since the organisers of Sunburn have submitted before the High Court that they will wind up the music at 10 pm, they will have to comply with the court's order.
“They (Sunburn) have given an undertaking to the High Court that they will wind up the music at 10 pm. In this situation, there’s no way we can go against the High Court order,” he said.
