PANAJI: The state
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has opposed any move by the state government to provide jobs to the people of Maharashtra, who have been displaced by the Tillari irrigation project.
"We have enough of unemployment here. The government shouldfirst ensure that Goans are provided jobs," said BJP spokesperson GovindParvatkar.
"The question arises if there was such a promise made byearlier governments. This is the first time we are hearing about such a demandfor jobs here in Goa. We know that monetary compensation was asked for. Goanyouth themselves are without jobs. The state government must take care of localneeds first," said Parvatkar.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)chose to tread middle ground. "Much depends on the agreement between the stategovernment and the government of Maharashtra which was done years ago. If therewas such an agreement to give jobs to Maharashtrians, we cannot go back on it.However, the details of this agreement is unknown to us," said NCP state unitpresident Surendra Sirsat.
"What if there was such a provision in theagreement, and hypothetically, what if the state government does not adhere toit and Maharashtra stops the water supply?" said Sirsat.
It may berecalled here that Maharashtra water resources minister Sunil Tatakare had urgedthe government of Goa to provide employment to about 665 Tillari irrigationproject-affected persons (PAPs) or to compensate them in 'a time-bound manner'by way of rehabilitation, which has been pending for the past 10years.
Tatakare had told a press conference that his Goa counterpart,water resources minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues had reacted positively andassured to pursue the matter with chief minister Digambar Kamat.
Healso claimed that while signing the agreement, Goa had agreed to rehabilitatethe PAPs in line with the Maharashtra Rehabilitation Act of 1996.
