Parulekar grilled by 'Parivar'
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 29 April 2013 18:58 IST
Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar was today grilled, not only by the opposition, but his own Bharatiya Janata Party members and other government supporters.
He had to face the music on hinterland tourism as well as the women and child development ministries.
He was initially irritated as Congress member Aleixo Reginald Lourenco raised an issue of land allotment of Pilern Communidade, involving his Officer on Special Duty.
Then came the question of developing eco-tourism at Anjune dam in Sattari, raised by opposition leader Pratapsing Rane.
He slipped in telling Rane that the unused building lying in bad shape cost Rs 62.85 crore, leaving every member shocked in the House.
Later, he made a correction, stating that it cost lakhs and not crores.
As minister’s reply once again stated that the world class consultants would decide how to develop hinterland tourism, Rane lost his patience and told him not to keep on boasting about consultants but to repair the existing structures.
As Parulekar assured him to inspect the site once again and take up repair works, BJP MLA Pramod Sawant, from Sanquelim, bombarded him with question.
“When will tourists start coming to Sattari? Will the festivals held only on the beaches like summer festival and food festival? Will the cashew festival be also held on the beaches tomorrow?”
As this was not enough, another BJP member Nilesh Cabral from Curchorem got up, asking about developing Selaulim dam for hinterland tourism in Sanguem taluka.
This is the first time Parulekar had to face the music from his own party members, on the issue of hinterland tourism.
As though this was not enough, independent MLA Naresh Sawal, who supports the government, grilled Parulekar on the issue of Balawadi buildings constructed by the government lying idle for four years.
“Small children are presently studying in the existing one-room buildings along with rates and pigeons”, he pointed out.
Parulekar tried telling him that new buildings had no power and water connection.
But agitated Sawal brought to his notice that the new buildings are awaiting connections for the last four years.
“You need to co-ordinate well with other departments and bring solace to the children”, he told the minister.
As I have often remarked, Dilip Parulekar is just a Sleepy Joe".
He is rampant with ideas and big schemes, but short on delivery and methods of delivery.
I wonder if "Building Castles in the Air" would be more appropriate to describe his style and manner.
He achieves his fantasies & delusions of grandeur, without even consuming any hallucinatory drugs.