Parrikar regrets opposition to IIT, assures another educational project in Canacona

CANACONA
Expressing confidence of completing the twin bridges at Galgibaga and Talpona on time for inauguration along with the third Mandovi bridge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar regretted the opposition to the IIT at Canacona and assured to grant some other educational project to Canacona in the near future.
In another significant decision, Parrikar said tourism stakeholders may not need to obtain CRZ-related NOCs every year for seasonal structures along the coastal belt. "We are working on a plan to approve a five-year seasonal permit policy. Under this policy, you will be required to demolish structures only once after every five years, instead of the present yearly system," said Parrikar.
Parrikar was addressing a meeting of BJP workers during his day-long tour of Canacona, the first such visit since he took over as chief minister.
"I had thought people would be overjoyed to welcome the IIT, which would have made Canacona not only an educational hub, but would have provided opportunities in Canacona. But unfortunately, hue and cry was made, and even though I still get requests from locals to keep the IIT in Canacona, I have no intention to bring it back."
"May be, some other educational project may be considered for Canacona in the near future, but no IIT here," he said.
Turning his attention to the twin bridges at Talpona and Galgibaga, Parrikar said: "Though these bridges are slated for completion in October, I have been assured that they will be completed by June/July. We had asked to expedite the works, so that inauguration of these two bridges could be timed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to inaugurate the third Mandovi bridge."
Parrikar also touched on the issue of fewer arrivals of domestic tourists this year and the need to practice ‘Atithi Devo Bhava' (‘The guest is equivalent to God') with visitors and to maintain cleanliness in surroundings.
When a memorandum was handed over to Parrikar by local panch Shilpa Pagui, he assured to build a bridge at Dhavalkhazan on the Agonda river, a long pending demand of the locals.
Responding to power supply grievances, Parrikar suspected the voltage problems due to high consumption along the tourism belt.
Speaking to Executive Engineer Santosh Lolienkar, Parrikar said: "I will give you a design, after speaking to the chief electrical engineer, to either upgrade the existing transformers, or to use compact type transformers to solve power outage problems."
Lolienkar had told the chief minister about problems in finding a place to house a new transformer for the locality.
Only three panchas of Agonda, besides MP (South) Narendra Savoikar, BJP General Secretary Sadanand Tanawade, BJP State Vice President Prakash Velip, former Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot, BJP Canacona Block President Mahesh (Govind) Naik, and some CMC councillors were among those present at the meeting.

‘Canacona is a place of intellectuals'
CANACONA: Expressing surprise that his visit to Canacona had been anticipated to such an extent, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday described Canacona as a place of intellectuals who are found all over the world.
Addressing party workers at Shristhal Panchayat Hall, Parrikar insisted that Canacona has been an important taluka to him.
"I can't understand why so much people were anticipating my long due visit to Canacona, as if my Canacona tour is being made out to be a tour to London. I always give utmost importance to Canacona, and though I'm visiting Canacona after almost 10 months after I formed this government, I used to come to Canacona almost every month during my previous term," said Parrikar.
"I always have a special affection to Canacona and you people," Parrikar told the BJP workers.
Speaking further, Parrikar said: "I see Canacona as a place of intellectuals. If I go to America, England and any other developed country, I find Canconkars there."
"No doubt, intellectual people are all over Goa, but such rare people are more from Canacona. Due to migration of our intellectuals, we greatly miss the desired leadership in Canacona," the chief minister said.
On his arrival to Canacona, Parrikar stopped at roadside (NH-17) Ganesh Gumti at Karmalghat, where a tree root resembling the face of Lord Ganesh is worshipped, and reached Agonda, where he addressed BJP Karyakarta's organised by BJP Yuva block of Canacona.
Incidentally, the BJP has taken Parrikar's visit to Canacona so seriously that that three BJP state leaders, two of whom are MPs, personally supervised the arrangements for the tour.
South Goa MP Narendra Savoikar Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar and BJP General Secretary Sadanand Tanawade had been camping in the taluka since the last two days.
Incidentally, Parrikar's entourage found the Cotigao panchayat house locked, when he had gone there to address a scheduled meeting with party workers in the panchayat hall.
After a brief visit to the bird festival at Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Parrikar met BJP workers at Poinguinim and then proceeded to Idhar in Loliem-Polem village for a short visit, before going to inspect the jetty at Talpona.
Following his visit to Dhavalkhan-Agonda, Parrikar also visited the Shri Mallikarjun Temple at Shristhal and later addressed party workers at the Shristhal Panchayat Hall.  

CM gets requests for better health, sanitation facilities in Canacona

CANACONA
Several requests ranging from health and sports complexes to sanitation facilities and Kumeri cultivation issues were put before Chief Minister on his visit to Canacona on Saturday.
The demands were placed before Parrikar when he interacted with members of all seven panchayats of Canacona taluka, including Khola which falls in Quepem constituency, and councillors at the Canacona Municipal Hall in Chaudi.
Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes thanked Parrikar for sanctioning projects worth Rs 22 crore for Canacona.
Fernandes then presented a memorandum on health issues plaguing the people of Canacona, including services at CHC, and sought the demolition of the old ADEI office at Chaudi and a new ADEI office with modern facilities.
Fernandes also sought a sports complex at a central place with outdoor and indoor sports facilities, a walking track and swimming pool, sanctioning of 4,054 toilets and sanitation facilities to households deprived of these facilities, Kumeri cultivation issues confronting tribal people and forest dwellers and a Fire Service Station at a central location.
Responding to some issues raised by MLA and sarpanchas, Parrikar assured to sanction a sports ground at Potkem-Poinguinim.
When Poinguinim Sarpanch Ramdas Pujari mentioned that previous sports minister Ramesh Tawadkar had laid the foundation stone for a Rs 20 crore stadium at Potkem which was shelved by the present government, Parrikar shot back: "Don't talk about the past, let us forget the past. Give me a sketch of what you want and I will approve a sports ground at Potkem."
Parrikar asked officers concerned to note the issues raised by people on crematoriums, beautification projects, roads, sports complex, Talpona Jetty, bhandaras, sulabg toilets, electricity, minor bridges, etc.