Goa ready to give govt jobs to Tillari project affected people

Panaji, Jan 18 (PTI) Goa Water Resources Minister FilipeNeri Rodrigues today said the state will have to study theprofiles of each of Tillari dam affected people beforeassuring them government jobs.

Rodrigues who met his Maharashtra counterpart SunilTatkare on Monday here said that Goa is ready to honourthe commitment given during the inception of Tillariirrigation development project.

"We are ready to give government jobs provided thecandidates fit the proper criteria. I will have to discusswith the Chief Minister and government needs to formmodalities," Rodrigues said.

The dam is constructed in northern part of Goa which hasaffected several villages from Maharashtra''s Sindhudurgdistrict.

Maharashtra''s demand stems from the agreement signedbetween both the states in 1990 which gave Goa 73 per centwater share from the dam project on Tillari river in the Northdistrict.

The neighbouring state has recalled that while having theprerogative of larger water share, Goa was also supposed tohave 73 per cent cost sharing and bore the liability ofproviding employment to the Project Affected People (PAP) asper the 1976 Rehabilitation Act of Maharashtra.

Rodrigues said there is a clause which speaks ofemployment to PAPs but "we need to see what kind of employmentcould be provided to them."

The minister said that since Goa never took any bigrehabilitation project, the state does not have a policy topay one time settlement for PAPs. .

A total of 11 villages with 1,236 families and 5,476 population was affected due to the project, which is aimed ateasing the drinking and irrigation water shortage of Goa.

Tatkare had told reporters here that 869 families werecertified to be PAP of which Maharashtra government hasprovided government employment to 204 people.

The project with 16 TMC dam is estimated to be of Rs1,612 crore of which Rs 875 crore has to be borne by Goagovernment.

to Rafi

Nagpur, Jan 18 (PTI) A city singer who recently set a newrecord of 93.20 hours marathon singing here is a die hard fanof legendry singer Mohammad Rafi and was so mad on learningthe demise of Rafi that he decided to attend the funeral.

As young boy, he had no source of income and had big dreamsin his eyes.He was at a public drinking water tab when heheard the sudden death of Rafi.He immediately threw water fromhis brass container and instead of fetching it went home andcollected another empty.

He went to a scap dealer and sold both vessels for Rs 60which was sufficent for him to catch a train to reachMumbai.His family members were puzzled by the action and hislove for singing and also for the late singer.This is asaga of Sunil Waghmare who has turned a professional singerand sings onlyRafi numbers.

The passion for singing and his love for Rafi gave himstrength to attempt the marathon singing.

According to Dr Anill Bajaj, the noted physician who ledthe team of doctors who monitored his health throughout thesinging, Waghmare was actually prepared for the singing.He didsome yoga practice and since enjoyed normal health,.hewas allowed to attempt.

His all vital oragans functioned normal and blood pressureremained normal.He was allowed to take break of five minutesand doctors gave him nutritions and lime water withhoney.Doctors were more anxious of his vocal cords and effecton lungs for continuous singing.He took a quick shower toremain fresh and water used to sprinkle on his face time andagain to keep him awake.

Waghmare was given fruits, dry fruits, strong coffee,ginger tea, clove and steam inhalation to keep him fit and hisvoice consistent.Soya milk also helpedhis remain fit, Dr Bajaj said.

Waghmare says he set new record to demand Bharat Ratna forlate Mohammad Rafi.The necessary video records have been sentto the Guiness Book of Records for their approval, Waghmareand Bajaj added.