MARGAO
Law Minister Nilesh Cabral blew hot and cold on Friday over the timelines set by the High Court, saying it is easy for the High Court to give timelines, but appreciated the High Court for monitoring and helping the government to resolve public issues, saying people do not listen to the politicians, but to the High Court.
“It’s easy for the High Court to give timelines by sitting and giving decisions for implementation, saying the timelines should be practical to achieve on the ground," he said.
Cabral, however, hastened to appreciate the High Court for monitoring and helping the government to resolve public issues, saying the people no longer listen to what the politicians say but listen to the High Court.
“I am the State’s Law Minister. I am not making statements against the Judges of the High Court. But, I am making a bold statement that it’s easy for the High Court to give timelines by sitting and giving decisions. But, it is very difficult to implement the decisions and timelines," Cabral told the media at Benaulim when he along with PWD officials inspected the ongoing works of the Western bypass.
Cabral, who also holds the PWD portfolio, was reacting to a query from a scribe about whether the PWD will be able to complete work on the bypass as per the timeline set by the High Court.
“I have asked the engineers and the contractor to submit a bar chart by Friday next so that I will come to know whether the work will be completed within the timeline or not," he said.
He, however, later appreciated the High Court decisions, saying “the High Court is doing a good thing, they are monitoring and helping the government to resolve public issues because the public doesn’t listen to politicians, but the High Court. It is a good thing the High Court is getting involved. Because of the High Court involvement, solutions are coming now."
He added: “I am saying the High Court is doing a good job because we politicians tend to bend down politically. It’s not that I am against the High Court. As a Law Minister, I appreciate the High Court work, but while giving timelines, the timelines should be practical."
The PWD Minister said the State is handicapped to take up road works because it cannot acquire even one square metre of land because of the 2012 Congress regime policy on land acquisition. “The number of vehicles is increasing, and as a PWD Minister, I cannot rectify the accident spots for want of land. I am handicapped. We can do development on the National Highways because of the National Highway Act," he said, while saying that he wants to work as the PWD minister for the next five years.
Saying he has devoted his attention over the last 5-6 months to revise the GSR since the contractors were shying away from taking government contracts because of the old GSR rates, Cabral said he will now focus on the infrastructure works from today.
