Conveying a message loud and clear that his government will not discriminate against anyone based on the voting pattern, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday reassured that no injustice will be done by his government to Salcete, as he commissioned two state-of-the-art sewage treatment plants at Sirvodem that are expected to benefit Margao, Fatorda, Navelim and help restore the pristine glory of Salcete’s life line River Sal.
Parrikar inaugurates sewage treatment plants at Sirvodemrrthe goan I networkrMARGAOrr“We don’t go by who has voted for whom. If we have committed a mistake, we have to rectify the mistake and go back to the people for a mandate. This government will not do any injustice on Salcete. Before the end of five years, you would find expenditure per head on Salcete almost equal or bigger than other areas,” Parrikar reassured Salcete as he promised to set up a garbage treatment plant for Salcete at Verna, whose cost can go up to Rs 400 crore over a period of 10 years. r Promising to set up a garbage treatment plant at Verna to tackle the waste problem faced by Salcete and Mormugao, the Chief Minister has further assured to rid the Sonsodo waste dump by December. He also promised to look into the request made by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat to extend help and assistance for the existing waste treatment plant at Sonsodo. He also promised to take up replacement of Margao’s dilapidated north main line passing through Fatorda as per the demand made by TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, saying a tender will soon be floated to lay a new line. r The Chief Minister said that technology, planning, finance and execution is required to resolve any issue, adding that the government has introduced the C-tech technology to solve the sewage problem affecting Margao and surrounding areas. r While disclosing plans to issue a notification for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for a waste treatment plant at Cacora, Parrikar sought the help and cooperation of the people to make Goa garbage free by 2019. r“The Verna plant will tackle waste generated in Salcete and Mormugao. Sonsodo will be cleared by December. Similar exercise will be initiated at Calangute and Candolim,” he said, while asserting that there ought to be no political differences on garbage redressal. r Earlier, Parrikar commissioned the 6.75 MLD STP built by JICA project as well as the 20 MLD STP constructed by Sewerage & Infrastructural Development Corporation of Goa. He said the 6.75 MLD will replace the existing 7.5 MLD plant, while the 20 MLD plant has a capacity to treat raw sewage water flowing into the river Sal and the Salpem lake. r In his address, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said the government had honoured its word by completing the two STPs within two years, while thanking Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for his support to complete the project. “This state of the art plants will not emit any foul odour. One may not be able to differentiate between this treated water and mineral water,” he said. r The PWD Minister promised to rehabilitate people with alternate houses if their houses will be demolished to make for the ongoing road expansion works. r Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said that with the commissioning of the two STPs, the focus should now be shifted on releasing house connections to the treatment plants. “I am happy that polluted water will not find its way into the River Sal and the water bodies. People will be free from bad odour,” he said. r Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro underlined the need to pump the raw sewage inundating Salpem lake into the STPs and restore the water body to its former glory. r In his brief address, ex-Navelim MLA Avertano Furtado profusely thanked the Chief Minster for completing the two STPs, which were initiated during his tenure. r“This is a big moment for the people of Navelim, Margao and Fatorda. I thank the Chief Minister for completing the project on time,” he said. r Margao Municipal Council chairperson Babita Prabhudesai and others also addressed the function. rrWith Luizinho on dais, Parrikar takes dig at ‘coup plotters’rMARGAO: In a clear message to the opposition camp in the wake of reports that attempts are being made to dislodge the three-month old government, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said that a government can be dislodged from office only with the mandate of the people and not otherwise. r The Chief Minster further said that he has no objection to anyone contesting against him for the bye-election for the Panaji constituency. r Concluding his half-an-hour speech at the function at Sirvodem-Margao to commission the STP plants, the Chief Minister made it quite clear that a government can be brought down only with the mandate of the people. “Only with a mandate of the people that a government can be brought down. Without the mandate of the people, you cannot throw out a government,” Parrikar said. r When the Chief Minister made the statement, State Congress president and Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro and former Congress chief minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat were seated on the dais. r While seeking cooperation from the people to rid Goa of garbage, Parrikar in a lighter vein said he is not talking about cleansing the state of the political garbage.
