MARGAO
As the BJP’s juggernaut rolled into the historic village of Cuncolim on Saturday, the constituency represented by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reminded Cuncolkars how he made it a point to partake in their festivals, including the famous Zatra of Shree Shantadurga Kunkallikarin and the Sotreo festivities over the years and has been instrumental in giving recognition of the Cuncolim Chieftains at the War Memorial, New Delhi.
During interaction with the traders, who highlighted the problem affecting their business, the Chief Minister assured Cuncolkars that both air and water pollution would soon end at the Cuncolim Industrial Estate with the government setting up a pollution monitoring mechanism at the industrial estate.
“Unlike sitting MP Francisco Sardinha, I have been with Cuncolkars always, be it the celebration of the Zatra of Shree Shantadurga Kunkallikarin or the Sotreo festival. The BJP could not win in Cuncolim in the 2022 Assembly and lost the seat by a few votes. This time I appeal to you to work unitedly and give a lead to the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls,” he said.
Saying the Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao had called on him on the issue of Cuncolim industrial pollution and the NH66 alignment, the Chief Minister said he is personally monitoring the pollution at Cuncolim. “We have been working on a system wherein the water used by the fish processing units will not be released out or discharged in the bore wells. All this water will be treated by the effluent treatment and recycled for use by the steel units,” he said.
Allaying fears and apprehensions raised by the traders that their kiosks may go for demolition to make way for the highway, the Chief Minister announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned over Rs 300 crore for land acquisition for the proposed Cuncolim bypass. “The NH66 passing through Cuncolim got delayed because of the question of building the highway on stilts at Cuncolim. We are trying to resolve the issue,” he said, adding that issues pertaining to the Cuncolim Industrial Estate and the NIT will be resolved by the Goa government.
