Panaji: Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday urged Assembly Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar to allot adequate time during the forthcoming session for discussion on three major issues concerning the state — deteriorating road infrastructure, unemployment and unplanned development.
In a letter to the Speaker, Sardesai said the issues were of urgent public importance and required meaningful discussion in the House. He also recalled that during the Assembly session held in March, the government had curtailed the proceedings, citing the Model Code of Conduct imposed in connection with the Ponda Assembly by-election.
The monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly is scheduled from August 31 to September 2. Sardesai said all Demands for Grants and the entire Budget for the financial year 2026-27 had been passed without discussion in the House in the past, which, he claimed, deprived elected representatives of their responsibility to debate, question and seek accountability from the government.
On road infrastructure, the Fatorda MLA said the deteriorating condition of roads, recurring potholes, inadequate maintenance and poor planning had become a serious public safety concern. He sought an explanation from the government on the reasons for the continuing deterioration and the measures being taken to address the issue.
Sardesai also called for a discussion on unemployment, saying Goa’s youth were increasingly concerned about the lack of adequate and sustainable employment opportunities.
He said the House should deliberate on the government’s employment policies, recruitment mechanisms, job creation and measures to ensure that Goan youth received fair opportunities in the state.
The third issue raised by Sardesai was the carrying capacity of Goa amid what he described as unchecked construction and unplanned development.
He said the pace of development was placing unprecedented pressure on the state’s land, water, roads, waste-management systems and other infrastructure, while the absence of a comprehensive carrying capacity framework threatened Goa’s environment, resources, identity and quality of life.
Sardesai said the three issues transcended political and constituency boundaries and required discussion in the Assembly.
