Parrikar undermined agriculture sector in Goa: NCP

Panaji, May 28 (UNI) The NCP today accused former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of undermining the importance of agriculture during his tenure as Chief Minister of the tiny coastal state.

Addressing a press conference here, Maharashtra NCP general secretary Gurunath Kulkarni alleged that Mr Parrikar had ridiculed the Tillari dam project being constructed jointly by Goa and Maharashtra by stating that farmers of North Goa did not require water from the dam. He also did not pay Goa's share of Rs 150 crore towards construction of the project, he alleged.

He said the inter-state project, which began in 1973-74 with an expenditure envisaged at Rs 54 crore, was completed recently at the cost of Rs 950 crore. As much as 75 per cent of the water from the dam was to have benefitted North Goa farmers situated in Pednem, Tivim and parts of Bardez taluka. But Mr Parrikar refused to pay Goa's share saying that farmers here did not require the water.

Similarly, Mr Kulkarni said the BJP leader did not fulfill the Promise of constructing the Aronda Kiran Pani bridge as part of the Sea Highway that is coming up parallel to the National Highway No 17. Mr Parrikar had said that if Maharashtra gives NOC for construction of the bridge, Goa was prepared to bear the entire cost of construction of the bridge.

''When he was the CM, I met him with a delegation that Goa should share 50 per cent of the burden to remind him of the assurance given when he was not in power. But, he did not do anything. Maharashtra government had to bear the entire burden of Rs 22 crore for the construction,'' he said.

Mr Kulkarni said Goa Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane was present at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the bridge last year and it will be completed in six months. ''Half of Goa's population lives in Mumbai and the bridge when completed will provide good connectivity on the Mumbai-Goa route.

''Mr Parrikar's political background is that he never fulfills assurances,'' Mr Kulkarni alleged.

To a question that Parrikar was Chief Minister only for four years and the Tillari project was under construction since 1973, Mr Kulkarni said successive Goa governments may not have paid their share of installments towards completion of the project for various reasons, but Mr Parrikar had categorically said he will not pay because North Goa does not require the dam water.

He said the June 2, assembly elections will further strengthen secular forces in Goa. Congress and NCP are working in perfect co-ordination for the elections, he said.

Claiming that the Cong-NCP alliance will win a majority, he said the reports that NCP is keeping its options open in the event of a hung assembly were hypothetical and baseless. NCP is contesting six seats out of 40, he added.

UNI