OLD GOA
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar has slammed the PWD circular limiting the expenditure for development works related to roads, water supply and buildings.
“In the circular, annually the expenditure in each constituency for roads and water supply works has been limited to a capital budget of Rs 10 crore and revenue budget of Rs 2 crore, totalling Rs 12 crore,” Borkar pointed out while adding that for buildings a revenue budget of only Rs 1 crore is allowed.
“If the expenditure exceeds the amount, then the PWD minister, who is also the CM, should be approached for getting the works approved,” Borkar added while slamming the circular stating that it is only a way to bring developmental works to a grinding halt. “For instance, in my St Andre constituency, the work of the road from Santan to the Kadamba road in Old Goa itself has been earmarked at Rs 27 crore. So, if the restrictions of Rs 12 crore annually are considered, then for the next two years I won’t be able to take up any other road works,” Borkar pointed out.
“Also, in the case of water supply, I have proposed many works which require crores of rupees and these also could not be taken up if one goes by the conditions in the circular,” the RGP MLA stated while slamming the CM, also the PWD minister, for coming out with this circular without taking the MLAs into confidence.
“This is going to affect all the 40 constituencies and the CM should have taken into confidence all MLAs before coming out with such insipid circular,” Borkar added and demanded that the same be withdrawn immediately. RGP leader Ajay Kholkar also spoke.
‘All MLAs should raise voice against circular’
Stating that the PWD circular would affect development works in all constituencies, RGP’s St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar has said all 40 MLAs from the ruling as well as the opposition should raise their voices against the same.
Replying to a question by The Goan on why he is the lone MLA objecting to the circular, MLA Borkar said that as far as the ruling MLAs are concerned they won’t raise their voices as they are part of the ruling dispensation. “But, at least the Opposition MLAs should raise their voices and force the CM to withdraw the circular,” Borkar stated.
To another question of the CM assuring that he would ensure that St Andre roads will get an uplift before going on a bullet ride, MLA Borkar questioned how that would be possible if the expenditure is limited to only Rs 12 crore. “If only the road works in my constituency are concerned, it would amount to hundreds of crores. So, even if the entire term of five years is completed, all these works will never be completed as per the circular,” Borkar said.
