Porvorim: Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai on Friday launched a sharp attack on the state government in the Goa Legislative Assembly, alleging wasteful expenditure on events, diversion of welfare funds, failure in waste management, and lack of benefits to locals despite the resumption of mining.
Participating in the Budget session discussion, Sardesai questioned the government over spending Rs 74 crore on various events, saying public money was being used for publicity rather than addressing core issues affecting people.
He claimed that Rs 13.22 crore was spent on the ‘Vikasit Bharat’ event in his constituency, alleging that people were brought from neighbouring states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka to attend the programme.
Sardesai further alleged that Rs 9.48 crore was spent on hoardings and advertisements during the G20 Summit-related activities in Goa, adding that funds meant for mining welfare were being diverted for electricity-related purposes.
The GFP leader also raised concerns over the law-and-order situation in the state. He alleged that the government was “taking over masjids in the same way companies are taken over,” and described the situation as “extraordinary circumstances” in Goa.
Referring to an incident at Dhargal, Sardesai said that an advocate who had gone for an inspection was allegedly beaten up in front of police personnel. He also linked the issue to the protest that took place inside the Assembly over the proposed dam project at Mirabag village.
The Fatorda MLA criticised the government’s waste management policies, stating that over Rs 500 crore had been spent on waste management projects, yet cleanliness remained a major concern.
Roadside dumping continues across the state. Garbage is being dumped openly, and there is no action against those responsible, Sardesai said.
On the mining sector, he said that while mining activities had resumed, local people were not getting employment opportunities. He also claimed that the way mining leases were structured had brought even temples within the lease areas, triggering protests in some mining-affected regions.
Sardesai added that people were agitating against mining operations by companies including Vedanta Limited, alleging that the benefits of mining were not reaching the local population.
