Special Correspondent
Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that the Centre has assured over Rs 250 crore for improvement works at the Anjunem Dam and the repair and renovation of its canal network. “The Union government has accorded the provisional sanction for these works,” he said.
Sawant was speaking to the media after his return to Goa from his Delhi trip.
The Chief Minister had met the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, C R Patil in the national capital on June 1.
Speaking to reporters about his Delhi visit, Sawant said that several issues concerning Goa were taken up during meeting with Patil, including proposals for the cleanup and rejuvenation of rivers and water bodies in the state, particularly the Sal River and St Inez Creek.
“The Union Minister assured that the Centre would consider the proposals positively once Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the projects are submitted,” he added.
Sawant also said that he met the Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav and discussed with him Goa related issues which are pending with the ministry.
“Yadav has promised to resolve the issues,” he said.
When asked if the Scheduled Tribe reservation issue was discussed in Delhi, Sawant said that discussions on political reservation for Scheduled Tribes are progressing, with multiple demands under active consideration.
Speaking on the issue of vacant ministerial berth in the state Cabinet, the Chief Minister indicated that the post would be filled shortly, thus signalling that a cabinet expansion could take place in the near future.
