Use leprosy hospital land to establish virology, cancer institutes: Sardinha

NT NETWORK

Margao

South Goa Member of Parliament (MP) has urged the state government to use the land at Curtorim’s leprosy hospital to be used to establish a virology institute on one side and a cancer institute on the other. 

Speaking to media persons at the Congress South Goa District office, Sardinha said the funds received to celebrate the 60th Liberation year of Goa should be used judiciously. 

“The centre has given the state Rs 300 crore to celebrate the 60th year of Goa’s liberation. But because of Covid the celebration may not be possible. Instead the state government must look to establish a full-fledged cancer institute in the state. The number of cases is increasing and people have to go to private hospitals which are expensive. Similarly, any detailed testing is sent to the virology institute in Pune. The land where the leprosy hospital is in Macazana (Curtorim) can be used. We want the government to establish a virology institute on one side and a cancer hospital on the other,” he said. 

He also emphasised on the need to restart legal mining in the state. “Goa has been suffering for the past nine years after Parrikar stopped mining. Due to this Goa’s GDP is collapsing and every year the government loans are mounting while employment and livelihood is totally affected. The government should take up this issue and legally resume mining. If it is through setting up of a mining corporation, it should function properly and should be managed properly. Take the central government into confidence, follow the Supreme Court regulations and start mining immediately,” said Sardinha. 

Requests were also made to ensure restarting of the
Goa Meat Complex, to bring down the price of meat as well as to restart the hatchery and the sugar factory.

He also called for a white paper to be made public on the issue of the coal blocks allocated to Goa in Madhya Pradesh. He called on transparency in declaration of how much coal was utilised, where it was sent and how much money was made. 

Speaking strongly against the recent exit of former Congress Mahila president and current AAP member Pratima Coutinho, Sardinha said there were efforts underway to rejuvenate the party. “Good riddance of bad rubbish. She (Coutinho) said she wanted to leave six months before. If she had left we would have won the Navelim ZP. When I was contesting, there was a lot said but it is the people’s acceptance that guarantees the win. We are trying our best to rejuvenate the party. In South and being the MP, I will go to many places to see the problems of the people and how I can solve them by utilising my funds and I will do my level best and see how to strengthen Congress in Goa. The issue of leadership will be settled once the elections in other states are over. The party high command will settle this issue. I am a soldier of the party and whatever post is given to me I will take it to rejuvenate the party,” he said.

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