Slog overs see netas rush to open halls, lay stones
Newton Sequeira | TNN | Mar 9, 2019, 06:34 IST
Picture used for representational purpose onlyPANAJI: From hastily drafted press releases that extolled the achievements of the ruling camp to midnight social media posts, ministers rushed through quick-fire rounds of inaugurations and policy announcements to beat the model code of conduct that is expected to come into effect over the weekend.
With the Election Commission giving strong indications that the poll dates could be announced by Sunday, the government went into overdrive, forcing bureaucrats to burn the midnight oil. Ministers, MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs got into the act with foundation stone-laying ceremonies being organized to address some of the promises made to voters before the previous elections.
Given that there are high stakes for the Lok Sabha elections, the inauguration spree was led by the two Lok Sabha MPs. Ayush minister and North Goa MP Shripad Naik inaugurated a project under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana in Querim village. This was quickly followed by the distribution of labour cards to beneficiaries of the Pradhanmantri Shram Yogi Mandhan Yojana in Panaji.
But this wasn’t all. Naik also found time to commission a 6km solar power-operated fence at Ibrampur in Pernem, again under the MPLAD scheme. Under the same scheme, Naik inaugurated a hall with gymnasium equipment at Satodem village.
His South Goa colleague, MP Narendra Sawaikar, also clocked miles as he laid foundation stones for various projects under the MPLAD scheme in South Goa. From unveiling a plaque for the installation of a Rs 1.8 crore 180kW on-grid solar generation unit to a Rs 2.4 crore butterfly platform at Margao railway station, Sawaikar made sure to leave his mark before the code of conduct comes into force.
‘Some mantris want officers to issue work orders’
He also laid the foundation stone for a compound wall for Chetana School for Special Children at Curchorem.
The flurry of announcements and inaugurations across the breadth of the state did not stop ministers in the coalition government, who also got into the act even though they are not running for elections.
Revenue minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte did the bhoomi puja for restoration of the existing garden at Journalist Colony, which will include a walking track, sitting areas for senior citizens, and outdoor gym equipment.
Town & country planning and agriculture minister Vijai Sardesai inaugurated an exhibition and laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Banastarim market complex.
Even chief minister Manohar Parrikar got into the act, albeit from the sanitized confines of his home due to his failing health.
Parrikar unveiled the foundation stone for a sewerage system for Taleigao and parts of Panaji, which Parrikar represents. He also authorized the release of 10MLD water from Salaulim for Borim and Shiroda villages, which are part of Shiroda constituency, where bypolls will be held in the coming month.
Health minister Vishwajit Rane, art and culture minister Govind Gaude, ports minister Jayesh Salgaonkar and also had their fair share of policy announcements and inauguration ceremonies.
Sources also said that some ministers have been pushing officers to issue work orders of tenders and also offer letters to job seekers.
Ministers and ruling coalition politicians could go ahead with their mission of sending a message that lot of projects are being done mainly because the state government pushed for bypolls to be clubbed with the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, a political observer said. Otherwise, there woudl have been a long period under election code of conduct if they had to be conducted separately.
With the Election Commission giving strong indications that the poll dates could be announced by Sunday, the government went into overdrive, forcing bureaucrats to burn the midnight oil. Ministers, MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs got into the act with foundation stone-laying ceremonies being organized to address some of the promises made to voters before the previous elections.
Given that there are high stakes for the Lok Sabha elections, the inauguration spree was led by the two Lok Sabha MPs. Ayush minister and North Goa MP Shripad Naik inaugurated a project under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana in Querim village. This was quickly followed by the distribution of labour cards to beneficiaries of the Pradhanmantri Shram Yogi Mandhan Yojana in Panaji.
But this wasn’t all. Naik also found time to commission a 6km solar power-operated fence at Ibrampur in Pernem, again under the MPLAD scheme. Under the same scheme, Naik inaugurated a hall with gymnasium equipment at Satodem village.
His South Goa colleague, MP Narendra Sawaikar, also clocked miles as he laid foundation stones for various projects under the MPLAD scheme in South Goa. From unveiling a plaque for the installation of a Rs 1.8 crore 180kW on-grid solar generation unit to a Rs 2.4 crore butterfly platform at Margao railway station, Sawaikar made sure to leave his mark before the code of conduct comes into force.
‘Some mantris want officers to issue work orders’
He also laid the foundation stone for a compound wall for Chetana School for Special Children at Curchorem.
The flurry of announcements and inaugurations across the breadth of the state did not stop ministers in the coalition government, who also got into the act even though they are not running for elections.
Revenue minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte did the bhoomi puja for restoration of the existing garden at Journalist Colony, which will include a walking track, sitting areas for senior citizens, and outdoor gym equipment.
Town & country planning and agriculture minister Vijai Sardesai inaugurated an exhibition and laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Banastarim market complex.
Even chief minister Manohar Parrikar got into the act, albeit from the sanitized confines of his home due to his failing health.
Parrikar unveiled the foundation stone for a sewerage system for Taleigao and parts of Panaji, which Parrikar represents. He also authorized the release of 10MLD water from Salaulim for Borim and Shiroda villages, which are part of Shiroda constituency, where bypolls will be held in the coming month.
Health minister Vishwajit Rane, art and culture minister Govind Gaude, ports minister Jayesh Salgaonkar and also had their fair share of policy announcements and inauguration ceremonies.
Sources also said that some ministers have been pushing officers to issue work orders of tenders and also offer letters to job seekers.
Ministers and ruling coalition politicians could go ahead with their mission of sending a message that lot of projects are being done mainly because the state government pushed for bypolls to be clubbed with the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, a political observer said. Otherwise, there woudl have been a long period under election code of conduct if they had to be conducted separately.
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