Panaji – Congress Party is concerned about the Health of the People of Goa. After the Alert Citizens caught a Water Tanker carrying Sewage at Sancoale, We met Heads of various Departments such as PWD, FDA,WRD, Transport and GSPCB and were shocked to observe that none of these Departments had taken Cognizance of the Incident. Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant was stunned after we produced documentary evidence and video proofs before him proving complete failure of administration, stated Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Amit Patkar.
Congress Delegation led by President Amit Patkar and comprising of Quepem MLA Altone D’ Costa, Subhash Phaldesai, Amarnath Panjikar, Orville Dourado, Adv. Jitendra Gaonkar, Savio D’ Silva, Adv. Shrinivas Khalap, Capt. Viriato Fernandes, Naushad Chaudari, Vivek D’ Silva, Sudin Naik, Olencio Semois and others.
We have urged the Chief Minister to Convene a Meeting of all the Concerned Departments and Stake Holders and Appoint a Nodal Agency to Monitor and Regulate the Tanker Operations in Goa, failing which Congress Party will not hesitate to Stop and Check the Tankers in Goa, warned Congress President Amit Patkar. We have also demanded a High Level Inquiry under Retired High Court Judge to investigate Tanker Operations in Goa and Revenue Loss to the State Treasury , he informed.
It is shocking to note that the Water Resource Department collects Revenue from Tanker Operators in only three Talukas namely Pernem, Bardez and Tiswadi. Transport Department has registration of only 26 Two Wheelers as Commercial Vehicles operating in Goa. Food and Drug Administration has no mandate to check the Quality of Water transported in Tankers and the Goa State Pollution Control Board is completely ignorant on Disposal of Sewage collected by the Tankers, pointed Amit Patkar maintaining that all these issues are brought to the Notice of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant.
We have raised the issue of false, misleading replies given to the Legislative Assembly Questions by various Departments. We hope the Chief Minister will act soon and bring relief to the People of Goa, stated Quepem MLA Altone D’ Costa.
We are at the peak of Summer and the Public Works Department has already has made it clear to us that there is shortage of 80MLD Water in Goa. Sadly, they have no plans to find solution to this problem, stated Amarnath Panjikar.
Congress Delegation also raised issues of irregularities and Corruption in the Works of Panaji Smart City, Discharge of Sewage by Baga Sewage Treatment Plant in Baga River, Maggots infested Rice supplied to Fair Price Shops by Civil Supplies Department and other issues pertaining to the State of Goa.