Thrust to be on developing basic amenities in Saligao constituency

NT NETWORK

PANAJI

Saligao constituency will be developed with all basic facilities under National Rurban Scheme by spending Rs 100 crore. The constituency has been selected by Union Ministry of Rural Development.

As per implementation strategy under the Rurban cluster project, the North Goa constituency of Bardez taluka, represented by Rural Development Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar, will see thrust being laid on improving public transport, irrigation network, sports, LGP gas connection, eco-tourism (development of ecological, historical and religious places), social infrastructure such as children’s park, citizen service centre, anganwadi centres, sub-health centres, digital literacy, 24×7 piped water supply, sanitation and solid and liquid waste management.

The minister said that the Centre will initially provide Rs 30 crore, while Rs 70 crore will be provided by the state government under the scheme.

As per study carried out by the authorities after selecting the Saligao constituency under Rurban scheme, the strength, opportunities, weaknesses and threats have been identified for developing six villages that come under this cluster.

According to the study report, Saligao is pre-dominantly a green cluster  with abundant bio-diversity and ecologically-sensitive areas, high literacy rate, inter-cluster road connectivity and has opportunities for development in horticulture, agro-processing household industrial units, digital and serving centres, handicraft and small scale industries, eco and hinterland tourism.

The study also found some ‘weaknesses’ in the constituency which include lack of maintenance of heritage homes, neglect of water bodies, lack of employment in formal and skilled sector and lack of attention being paid to bio-diversity, where as it puts light on threats such as impact of tides on the coast, lack of access to modern agriculture practices, inundation of khazan lands and lack of skills to generate
employment.