PORVORIM, JAN 6
Strongly opposing the government’s decision to privatise the District Hospital at Mapusa, Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar has threatened to launch an agitation.
He further warned that if the government fails to change its decision by January 26 or does not allow him to start the agitation, then the Goa Democratic Front would take the lead in this regard.
Narvekar was addressing media at his residence at Mapusa on Thursday evening.
“The District Hospital was conceptualized to provide medical facilities free of cost to the people of North Goa,” stated Narvekar.
He further informed that the foundation stone was laid in 2002 when Manohar Parrikar was the chief minister and the machinery required for the project was purchased when he was the health minister in 2005.
“On November 30, 2008, the Goa Structural Industrial Development Corporation handed over the District Hospital to the government and on May 27, 2009, the Directorate of Health Services took possession of the hospital. But till date, the District Hospital has not gone on stream fully which is a matter of shame for the government,” stated Narvekar.
“The government has so far spent Rs 65 lakh on maintenance of the District Hospital, Rs 36 lakh on electricity and Rs 7 lakh on security arrangement, which is nothing but the waste of money,” he stated.
“The total amount so far spent on the District Hospital works out to Rs 46 crore. The warranty on some of the super-speciality machineries installed in the hospital has lapsed and the government is yet to renew the warranty,” claimed Narvekar.
“I was not taken into confidence by the government while taking the decision about privatization of the District Hospital. The issue of District Hospital concerns the people of North Goa and hence I am prepared to join hands with the members of any political party to see that the people of North Goa get justice,” stated Narvekar.
“The government is free to privatize the hospitals that are coming up in Margao and Valpoi, but under no circumstances I will allow privatization of the District Hospital at Mapusa. People must get medical facilities free of cost,” thundered Narvekar.
With regard to construction of Ravindra Bhavan project at Mapusa, Narvekar said the site selected by the government near Mapusa Police station is the best site and the government should go ahead with the project.
“If the government decides to change the site, then the project can be set up in Bastora village in Aldona constituency,” he said adding that he will be pleased to offer assistance to the Directorate of Art and Culture to set up Ravindra Bhavan in Bastora, which is on the outskirts of Mapusa city.
ZP members Gupesh Naik and Kunda Bagkar, Goa Democratic Front President Edward Lima, sarpanchas of Penha-de-Franca, Aldona and Salvador-do-Mundo were present for the press conference.