Govt shelves plans to set up IRB barracks on leprosy hospital land in Curtorim

Curtorim villagers opposing the IRB barracks at the Leprosy hospital land in file photo.

MARGAO

There’s good news for Curtorkars opposing government’s plan to set up police barracks on the leprosy hospital land in Curtorim village.

For, the government is scouting out for alternate land in South Goa district to house the barracks for the IRB.

Curtorim Independent MLA, Reginaldo Lourenco, who is supporting the BJP-led Chief Minister Pramod Sawant government, has on Thursday publicly announced that the government has shelved the controversial proposal to set up the IRB barracks on the leprosy hospital land.

He said the government has told the South Goa district authorities to look out for alternate land to accommodate the IRB barracks.

Reginaldo made a public statement in this respect during the visit of Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pilai for an interaction with panchayat elected representatives from Curtorim constituency. 

“After my election, I took up the controversial project with the Chief Minister, who has shelved the IRB barracks project from coming up on the leprosy hospital land. The district collector will scout for alternate land for the IRB barracks”, he said.

To a question, the Independent MLA pointed out that the people of Curtorim will take a call on the  nature of projects that should come up on the leprosy hospital land. 

“For the moment, the government has shelved the IRB project on the leprosy hospital land. We will all sit and discuss and decide on the project that should come up on the  land in question,” he said.

Curtorim villager had been vehemently objecting to the IRB barracks project on the leprosy hospital land, demanding that the land in question should play host to a project such as a hospital, medical institution or other public utility projects.

In fact, people of Curtorim had objected to the demarcation of the property by the government, signalling they will oppose tooth and nail the IRB barracks on the hospital land.

Meanwhile, the Curtorim MLA has said that the government would take up the upgradation of the Curtorim Primary Health Cnetre and will build a police station premises for the Maina Curtorim police station.

“The upgradation of the Curtorim PHC will be taken up on priority, The work is being tendered and the financial sanction is being awaited”, he said.

Similarly, he said the police station project is also ready and the same will be taken up after a financial nod by the government.