We have always strived to make life easy for the residents of Porvorim. One of our initiatives was the construction of a service road to allow Porvorkars an opportunity to skip the growing traffic on the National Highway.
Apart from benefitting Porvorkars, this service road has become a major road due to the on-going construction of the third Mandovi bridge. The service roads now acts like a link between North Goa and Panjim, making sure that traffic is not diverted via Betim, or along the internal roads of Porvorim.
We had started work on the service road in 2013 hoping that it would be completed in a year or so, but due to a lot of teething issues, the road’s bad condition wasn’t improved.
In our last term we had promised development, this term we will ensure that all of it and much more is completed. The first step is beginning the hot mixing of around 1.2 kms of this neglected service road at a cost of Rs 2.3 crores.
With the beginning of this hot mixing, we can say with pride that Porvorim is rising. Other developmental works are also being expedited and our dream of making Porvorim a model constituency will soon come true.
Thank you for your continued support!

Keeping in mind the acute water shortage that is being faced by Porvorkars, we held a review meeting with several PWD officials in the presence of the PWD Minister Shri Sudin Dhavalikar. During the meeting we discussed the future of water supply to Porvorim, to ensure that no shortage of water is faced. As announced in the Goa Budget, the 20 MLD plant at Guirim and 15 MLD at Porvorim will also help solve water shortage problems in Porvorim constituency.

In the meeting, construction of roads to improve connectivity and repairing of roads was also discussed.

We have also pushed for the re-development of government quarters in Porvorim and fast-tracking of all pending work in our Constituency of Porvorim.

The PWD Minister has assured us that all works will be completed.

Today around 15 students of Government High School, Betim were admitted to Goa Medical College, Bambolim after they fell ill due to suspected food poisoning.

I rushed to the spot after the students began complaining of uneasiness after consuming the midday meal.
As school officials did not take any action, worried parents telephoned me.
After taking stock of the situation, I had the students transported to GMC in 108 ambulances.
I have informed the FDA Officials about the incident.
The officials then called the food providers for questioning and investigations to find the cause of the problem are underway.
I have assured the parents that strict action will be taken if any violations are found.

Garbage is a major issue plaguing the State of Goa. Collection, segregation and disposal

are the biggest issues that we’re facing in all the 40 constituencies.

Land fill sites have to be stopped and for that to happen the only solution is segregation and collection of garbage at Panchayat level. In addition, it must be transported as segregated waste.

For this to happen, Panchyats require financial assistance for collection, segregation and transportation.

I have been at the forefront in the fight to tackle the growing menace of garbage in the State.

This is what I had to say after visiting the ‘Solid Waste Treatment Plant’ at Saligao on Monday.

My commitment to the people of Porvorim and my efforts to develop my constituency of Porvorim into a model constituency helped me beat the odds and create political history.

Your continued support dear Porvorkars, helped me make this history as I am the only MLA to have secured a seat twice while contesting as an Independent since Goa attained statehood in 1987.

Thank you dear Porvorkars for your faith and trust in me! You are my pillars of support and have helped create this record win.

After living up to your expectations since 2012, I am humbled by your faith in me and will continue to push my limits. Any obstacles that interfere with the progress and development of Porvorim will be overcome.

Elections maybe over Porvorkars, but our mission is not! Let’s keep raising our voices. Together for Porvorim, together for Goa!

Thank you once again!

After vociferously pushing for a solution to the traffic snarls in Porvorim over the past five years, re-elected Porvorim MLA and recently appointed Minister Rohan Khaunte has begun pulling strings to ensure that a solution is found.

Sitting in the Opposition for five years limited our dynamic leader’s effective implementation of plans to ease the traffic chaos in Porvorim. However, a day after coming to power, we held a meeting with Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar, concerned departments and officials to implement a practical solution.

An action plan has been created and implementation of the same is in progress. We assure that continuous follow-ups will be carried out to ensure that traffic chaos is reduced and eventually negated.

As part of our efforts to tackle traffic chaos in the past, we have taken it upon ourselves to install traffic signals without government support. Now that we are part of the government, things can only get better for the entire Constituency of Porvorim and the State of Goa.

The media reports election results according to how many seats each party has won; Independent candidates are usually grouped together at the end, under ‘Others’. Some people think that since an Independent does not have party support, he is relevant only in his constituency. I beg to differ. As an Independent, I believe I have been able to catalyse change not just in Porvorim – my constituency – but also other parts of Goa, by my presence and performance in the state assembly.

I have asked 434 questions in the last five years, more than any MLA belonging to any party.  Independent MLAs have asked one out of every three questions. Time and again, I have raised the issue of corruption on the floor of the house, making the government take notice. The beach-cleaning scam and the conspiracy to allow wanton destruction of coconut trees are just two of the problems which affect the entire state that I have brought to the attention of the assembly and the public.

Since I have no political masters to please, I can speak without hesitation in the Vidhan Sabha, asking the government uncomfortable questions that highlight inefficiency, fraud and nepotism, whenever and wherever they occur. I have repeatedly reminded the government about rising unemployment in the state and suggested solutions for the same too. And since I am not allied with an opposition party either, I have supported the government whenever it has taken a decision in the interests of the people.

Sometimes, government schemes – whether Central or State – do not work. When this happens, the MLAs of the party that launched the scheme do not voice their concern, even if it has affected their constituency, because they fear the wrath of their party. As an Independent, I have questioned the logic of distributing LED bulbs to households when the focus should have been on providing electricity to run them, or subsidise the electricity bills instead.

As an entrepreneur, I thoroughly understand economics and finance. It is this knowledge which enables me to probe the finances of the state. Instead of taking a populist standpoint and brushing government debt under the carpet, I have, time and again, pointed out the consequences of our present financial regimen if we don’t rethink our economy.

Every constituency, and its problems, are different. Yet the government sees fit to allocate the same type and amount of resources to each one as a one-size-fits-all solution. While some say the ruling party may neglect constituencies in which it isn’t in power, I believe that as an Independent, I can persuade the government to take action. I have highlighted the sanitation problems of Porvorim, initiating and completing the laying of a vast sewerage network to ensure Porvorkars never have the same problem again.

Unlike party MLAs, I do not waste time in intra-party power struggles, trying to please rival factions and placing politics over governance, as is happening in Uttar Pradesh today. All my energy is spent in consulting with my allies – the people of Porvorim.

There has never been any allegation of corruption against me. Unlike others, I do not have a party mechanism to suppress any charges against me. I believe that in a democracy, transparency – both personal and professional – is paramount, and my record is clear, and visible for all to see.

When the people of Porvorim voted me as their representative five years ago, they sent a clear message to political parties: only work counts. They expressed their confidence in someone who had no political affiliation because they observed that a party is not essential for progress. I trust that they will continue to have that same faith, and support me once again as their candidate: Independent but responsible.   

Five years ago, the BJP made a long list of promises to the people of Goa. Goenkars believed in them and believed that once in power, they would fulfil them. They gave the parivartan government a resounding mandate, and the party occupied over half the Assembly. Understandably, Goenkars began to expect their government to honour their word. At the very least, they expected the government to be a responsible to its citizens. Instead, Goenkars have waited and watched while their ministers behaved in a manner befitting an undisciplined child: careless, lying, badly behaved and making excuses all the time.

Special status for Goa is an old and much-publicised demand. Today, more than ever before, it is a much-needed requirement: Goa is losing its identity, Goenkars are being relegated to the margins and the state is in more debt than the liquor baron who made it his home. This government made a big show of presenting their demand for special status to both the UPA and NDA regimes. Neither agreed, but two successive BJP chief ministers continued to give the public the impression that special status is just around the corner. Today, CM Parsekar says, “Special status is not practical so what is the point of chasing something that you cannot get.” To rub salt into the wound, and knowing well that special status entails more than just financial stimulus, he goes on to declare: “Goa did not need this status, as it was amongst the leading states in India, with regards to financial parameters.” A U-turn, followed by a lie.

This government came to power by attacking the Regional Plan 2021, and demanding that it be scrapped. As soon as it came to power, it somehow changed its mind, and decided to modify the plan instead, with inputs from each taluka. This was over four years ago. Its term has almost come to end, but the Town and Country Planning Board seems to have assumed it has five more years to sit on this desperately needed blueprint. Deputy CM and Minister in charge of TCP Francis D’Souza has announced that there is no timeline to finalise the RP 2021 at all. Perhaps he has forgotten that 2021 is only 4 years away. CM Parsekar thinks Goans will continue to believe his statement: “during the last four and a half years, no objectionable sale of land has taken place to non-Goans”.

This government is a master in the art of deflection, and covering up when it does something wrong. When the foreign citizenship issue was giving the state (and the government) a bad name, all CM Parsekar had to say was: “Goan families need to introspect”. While citizens suffered electricity cuts, this government saw fit to distribute LED bulbs. While the mining industry has just started to get back to its feet, the government has abruptly terminated financial schemes that supported the 2 lakh people affected by the mining ban. The functioning of several primary schools is endangered due to a lack of funding while the government continues to play ping-pong with its political masters. In a twist straight out of a political drama, the Information and Publicity Department organised a Konkani Song Festival in which all participants had to present compositions based on “the achievements of the present government”! The government wants Goans to literally make a song and dance out of its meagre achievements, it seems.

The Parsekar government is a moody child that likes to keep changing its mind, and my constituency Porvorim has suffered the brunt of this behaviour. The Tourism Minister considered footpaths along CHOGM road a necessity; he does not consider drains to prevent the flooding that occurs every year, a necessity too. The old market complex was declared structurally unsafe over four years ago; I managed to get the construction of a new one sanctioned shortly after I was elected. Supposed to be completed in 18 months, it is now over a year behind schedule, and work has stalled because the government is not releasing funds. Porvorim was promised a fire station in both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 budgets; Porvorkars are still waiting.

As an opposition MLA, I consider it my constitutional duty to represent the common man in the assembly and hold the government responsible for everything it says or does. The government, however, holds itself above constitutional procedure. It gives incomplete and improper answers to questions that target its many failings. Multiple Breach of Privilege motions too have failed to shame the government into changing its obstinate stance of concealing important information that the public has a right to know.

The Parsekar government does not know how to behave with the public. In the forthcoming election, I am sure the public will announce their punishment.

Every housewife knows how to balance her household budget. Even children don’t spend more than the sum of their pocket money. But the government of Goa is financially illiterate; it spends more than it earns and borrows more than it can repay.

Goa has traditionally been a rich state, with India’s highest per capita income, but successive governments with no vision have ruined the state’s finances. Goa is like a man who kept losing money until he had to borrow from others, then continued to borrow until he lost control of how much he had to borrow. In the last seven years, Goa’s debt has doubled to over 11,000 crores – more than how much revenue the government will spend this year!
This government has to keep borrowing simply to survive. Does the CM realize he is borrowing on behalf of all Goans? The average monthly income of each Goan is around 23,000 rupees. Every Goan would have to sacrifice three months’ salary to square off Goa’s per capita debt! Goa now has to borrow money just to repay the interest on the money it has already borrowed.

Every year, the Finance Minister juggles the numbers to make the budget look good. How much longer can he direct funds intended for water supply and electricity towards short-term payments? If a government is not financially responsible to even its own people, what higher power does it report to?

When the Modi government came to power, Goans hoped that one BJP government would help another. Instead, Goa has become a pawn in a national chess game. Let alone special status, the Center refused to grant any aid even when mining was banned. Instead, it has transformed its junior partner into a dalal by getting it to employ KPMG – a firm which ran Modi’s election campaign – to broker land deals and the nationalization of our waterways with no consideration for the sentiments of the sons of soil. The remote control for Goa is in New Delhi; it is dangerously close to becoming a Union Territory again – literally.

Leave alone the acche din that were supposed to come, even the bure din refuse to go away. Demonetization is a well-intentioned move, but it has burdened the back of the common man even more. Essential commodities such as medicines have suddenly become out of reach, and the government has shown no signs of cracking down on hospitals refusing to accept old notes. It has the audacity to compare standing in line at the bank to queuing up for a movie ticket. Mr CM, watching a film is a choice and a luxury, waiting for hours and hours to be allowed to withdraw only a fraction of one’s own hard-earned money is an undeserved punishment!

Time and again, I have named and shamed this government’s blunders. Despite this, rumor mills suggest I will join the BJP. Does this make any sense?

I’m confident Goans will bring about a parivartan of government by ousting this parivartan government.