MARGAO: Former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes, who recently joined Congress, dismissed chief minister Pramod Sawant’s recent announcement of free water of upto 16,000 liters as “a gimmick that would not result in any substantial benefit to households”. He has demanded that the government ensure jobs for youth instead.
“The need of the hour is to provide jobs to at least one member in every household to avert the poverty crisis that is engulfing the people of the state due to the Covid pandemic,” Gomes said.
Pointing out that BJP government had already effected a steep hike in water rates six months ago, Gomes said that in a scenario where an average household would be using 27 units, one unit being equivalent to 1,000 liters, the benefits of free water would not be more than a mere Rs 61. “Even assuming Sawant had the best of intentions, such promises show he lacks good advisers,” he said.
