Kamat, Lourenco train guns on govt

MARGAO:Congress MLAs Digambar Kamat and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, on Saturday, lambasted the BJP-led government for its failure to undertake development works in the state, specially in the Margao constituency.
Referring to chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s remark in the budget speech that ‘good health is the fundamental right of every citizen,’ Margao legislator Kamat asked, “Why not for South Goa citizens? Health is becoming very expensive today and the GMC is overloaded.The South Goa district hospital is the only solution for those who cannot afford private hospitals, as it caters to the entire South Goa population.”
Highlighting the non-functional morgue of the new super-speciality Margao ESI hospital, Kamat told reporters that health minister, Francis D’Souza, had assured that operations of two of the four mortuary units at the Margao TB hospital would commence and that the district hospital would be inaugurated in December. The former chief minister doubted the possibility of it being completed within just four months.
Kamat also questioned the delay in completion of projects such as the KTC bus terminus, the non-conventional energy park, the sewerage treatment plant and the promised swimming pool of ‘international standards’ in Margao.
Demanding a refund of the infrastructure tax collected, Kamat further sought that the government implement the state cultural policysimilar to the state sports policyso as to benefit students excelling in cultural activities.
On his part, Curtorim MLA Lourenco said that the opposition had unanimously raised the issue of the Saligao garbage treatment plant ‘scam’. Further commenting on the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana, he said, “The DDSSY, with its high premium, is a systematic plan to finish the government-run GMC and help the private hospitals that funded the birthday bash of defence minister Manohar Parrikar.”