PANAJI: In his first public criticism of the state BJP government, independent Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar on Sunday said that the IIT campus project promised to him by former chief minister Manohar Parrikar at Sanguem was snatched away recently. Gaonkar said the decision was taken without consulting him.
“Suddenly the IIT project was taken away within a minute at a cabinet meeting,” said Gaonkar. “Former CM Parrikar had already decided to take the IIT project to Sanguem and he had told me. When youngsters come on the road today, it is not their mistake. If we do not plan well, it will not take us much time to finish off Goa.”
The state government has proposed the IIT at Melauli in Sattari taluka, where it is facing objections from locals. Gaonkar, who has never before expressed any criticism against the current government, said that Goa would be destroyed in no time if infrastructural projects are planned randomly without consulting the locals, leading to a phenomenon of citizen-driven protests.
Gaonkar, who has never before expressed any criticism against the current government, said that Goa would be destroyed in no time if infrastructural projects are planned randomly without consulting the locals, leading to a phenomenon of citizen-driven protests.
“Projects should not come up just because one person feels it should come up at a certain place,” said Gaonkar, speaking at an online citizens’ round-table organized by Parikram Knowledge Terminus. “There should be a detailed study, including its impact on the environment. Protests happen when the government is treading in the wrong direction. The state government should start taking the people along.”
He said that the state government decided to declare 96 villages in Goa as eco-sensitive zones without holding any discussions with stakeholders whatsoever.
“That is wrong and that is why protests are taking place,” he said. “Our government goes wrong to some extent. I admit that. The government has failed to go to the people to some extent. When we take projects to rural areas, we need to assess how much destruction will take place. The trees are those preserved by our ancestors and if people ask questions, the government should be able to respond.”
The discussion was organised to engage some prominent citizens on why Goa is facing a barrage of protests against various infrastructural projects.
“Projects cannot come up randomly. When I wanted to take IIT to Sanguem, I held a discussion about it with my constituents. Some opposed it and some supported it, but we have to take projects to the people,” said Gaonkar.
Entrepreneur Sangeeta Naik said that the state government cannot just brush off its responsibility by saying the projects like those in Mollem are central government ones.
“Can’t we as a state put our foot down and tell them that we have limited resources? Our environmental legislation is very powerful, but we are looking at it as though it is a hurdle,” said Naik.
Congress general secretary Yatish Naik said that voters also need to take some responsibility for their bad choices.
“It is also dependent on the voters,” he said. “If you watch tiatrs and nataks and vote, this will happen. You cannot curse a public representative. Voters are also responsible for it. When voting, you should vote for those who have a sincerity of purpose. You are ultimately voting for a policymaker.”