Panaji, December 19, 2019 …Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant today said that the State Government will not compromise on Mhadei River Water. He said, Mhadei River is mother to him and that efforts are on to resolve Mhadei River issue.
Addressing the people of Goa, on the occasion of 58th anniversary of the liberation of the State of Goa at the State Level function held at S.A.G. Ground, Near Swimming Pool, Campal, Panaji the Chief Minister said the matter pertaining to the letter given by the Union Government to the neighbouring Karnataka state is kept in abeyance and as such all efforts will be made to redress the issue in the interest of the state and its people.
The Chief Minister said that the Government is committed to give jobs to the children of freedom fighters and therefore appealed to them not to resort to agitation. He said, Government is aware of the contribution and sacrifices made by the freedom fighters to liberate Goa from Portuguese regime and keeping this in view the Government is endeavouring to give jobs to their children taking into account the legal aspect.
The Chief Minister urged the people not to fall prey to the false propaganda and hue and cry made by some people over the Citizens Amendment Act passed by the Central Government since it is in the interest of the people belonging to all walks of life.
Stating that Goa is emerging as an educational hub the Chief Minister informed that adequate space has already been allotted to set up proposed IIT and NIT in the State. Moreover efforts are on to setup AIIMS and IIM and for resumption of mining activity in the state.
Extending the greetings of Goa Liberation Day to the people the Chief Minister said Goa has remarkably progressed since Liberation in the field of Education, Art, Agriculture etc and is among the top states in terms of Health and Infrastructure facilities. He also listed the various works particularly in the infrastructure sector and said that efforts are being initiated to extend the benefit of the State and Centrally sponsored schemes to the people.
The Chief Minister presented awards to those who have contributed in various fields. These include Chief Minister Police (Gold ) Medals to Shri Ninad Ganesh Deulkar, Shri Tushar Gurudas Lotlikar, Shri Ratnakar A. Kalangutkar, Shri Roque Felipe Estibeiro, Shri Damodar R Mestri, Shri Sushant Shantaram Sawant, Shri Keshav Zilba Naik, citation for award of Chief Minister’s Home Guards and Civil Defence Gold Medal for Meritoriuos Services to Smt Kalpana S. Parab and Shri Surendranath C. Shetye, citation for the award of Goa Chief Minister fire service medal for meritorious service to Leading fire Fighters namely Shri Ratanakar Gawas, Shri Rajan R. Parab, Shri Chandrakant M. Parab , Citation for award for Chief Minister to Shri Mangaldas P. Devesekar, RFO for outstanding work as Instructor, Shri Ashok S. Velip, Forest Guard for his outstanding contributions in conservation and Propagation of Forestry and Medicinal Plants, . State Agriculture Awards such as Krishi Ratna to Shri Nagesh Vishnu Samant, Krlapal Dabal, , Krishi Vibhushan to Shri Pandurang |Shntaram Patil, Revona, Sanguem, Krishi Bhushan to Shri Shyam Vishnu Gaonkar Satre, Sattari, Fr. Inanciao Almeida Memorial Speacial Award for Organic Farming to Shri Mohan Mortu Tendulkar, Molcornem, Quepem, besides State Award for Meritorious and dedicated Services, State Awards were also presented for best Social Workers and Persons with Disabilities.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected the parade and March Past and took salute from the contingents of Police, Home Guards, NCC, Students among others. Students presented the cultural programme on the occasion. Chief Minister also distributed prizes to the winners of March Past in which 1st prize went to Shree Shantadurga High School Bicholim, 2nd prize bagged by Shri Bhumika High School, Parye, Sattari and 3rd prize went to Shri Balaram Residential High School, Cancona.
The liberation day was attended by the speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Shri Rajesh Patnekar, Leader of Opposition, Shri Digambar Kamat, Shri. Francis Silveira, MLA and Secretary to the Government, Government Officers, Councillors, teachers, Panchayat Members, Social Workers and large number of students. Earlier, Minister for revenue, Mrs. Jennifer Monserate and its Secretary Shri Parimal Rai received the Chief Minister at the venue of the function.
