MAPUSA: Asserting that adequate water supply is a crucial requirement for Goans, INDIA bloc’s North Goa candidate Adv Ramakant Khalap said that the work on the Tillari pipeline project in Guirim and Saligao pursued by him was left incomplete by the BJP government.
He was speaking during corner meetings at Anjuna and Assagao as part of his campaign.
“Pipelines were laid in Guirim and Saligao as part of the Tillari water supply project. If you stand atop Guirim, you will see these half pipelines that have been laid. Crores of rupees were spent on this. These pipelines are lying unused. When I was out of the government, the subsequent administration didn’t pursue this project. If water has to be supplied, then why the government has not utilised these pipelines? How will people get water? If not for agriculture, at least this water could have been used for drinking purposes. The state BJP government has been in power since 2012. I have been telling them for the past 12 years that let us bring this water. Now they are building a water treatment plant at Guirim, but where will the water come for this?” he said.
He also spoke on the need to preserve Goa’s dwindling land resources.
“Whoever we elect as panchayat member, MLA and MP, that person must have love for the land of the state and must protect this resource. If we continue to sell our hills, what will be left for our Goans? We want our Goa for Goans. There is a question mark whether Goa will remain with Goans,” he said.
Khalap also assured to raise issues concerning the state in the Lok Sabha.
“We must send a representative to Parliament who will work for the people. When you sent me to Lok Sabha in 1996, I had promised you all that I would be the voice of Goans and I delivered the same. There is a need to raise issues concerning the state. When I was an MLA, I would strongly raise issues and speak up to place my demands. I would not mince any words, if something is wrong, it’s wrong. In this manner, I kept on making demands and got my work done,” he said.
