South Goa Member of Parliament Captain Viriato Fernandes undertook a comprehensive tour of Canacona constituencyon 12th May 2025, addressing local concerns and sanctioning developmental projects under the MPLAD scheme.He was accompanied by South Goa District Congress President Shri Savio D’Silva, Canacona Block President Shri Abel Borges, Congress Party leaders Shri. Janardan Bandari, Shri Gaspar Coutinho, Mrs. Ursila D’ Costa and Local leaders Shri Prashant Naik, Shri Vikas Bhagat, Shri Mahadev Dessai, Former Sarpanch of Kotigao Panchayat Shri Daya Gaonkar& Shri. Arjun.
The visit commenced from Agonda village at 10:00 a.m., where he interacted with the villagerswho raised several issues like CRZ, water supply problem, inadequate facilities at the local police outpost, and the need for better utilization of the village ground.
Next, he visited the village of Palolem, where the villager submitted a memorandum to the Hon. MP highlighting the issue of reduced tourist footfall due to the shift of flights to Mopa Airport. They also requested the development and upgradation of the Canacona Community Health Centre to a District Health Centre.
Later, he visited the Canacona Municipal Council office and interacted with Chairperson Mrs. Sara S. Naik Dessai and the councillors. Projects that could be considered under MPLAD were discussed. The Hon. MP immediately sanctioned a hearse van to the Municipality.
At Chaudi, the Hon MP paid floral tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by garlanding his statue near the bus stand and also visited St. Theresa of Jesus Church and prayed for the well being of the people.
Continuing his tour, he visited Shristhal Panchayat and interacted with the Sarpanch & Panch members. A project under MPLAD was immediately sanctioned for a school at Bhatpal. The Member of Parliament and his team visited the Temple of Lord Mallikarjuna, where he sought blessings and held discussion with the temple committee.
Upon learning that MP was in the villages, local youths invited him to a Cricket tournament which was in progress at nearby fields. The MP distributed the prizes and congratulated the organizers of the tournament. He encouraged the youth to continue participating in such community-building events.
In the post-lunch session, he visited the village Panchayat of Loliem and interacted with Sarpanch &Panch members. During a public interaction in Loliem, he immediately sanctioned an ambulance for local use so that patients could be transported promptly to Canacona Hospital.
Later, he visited Poinguinim Panchayat where the panchayat body submitted a memorandum detailing their requirements through MPLAD funds. He also interacted with the villagers of Chiplem who raised concerns about poor mobile network coveragein the village. The Hon. MP assured them that this matter would be taken up with the BSNL office.
In the evening, the MP visited Gaondongari village, where he was informed about ongoing water supply issues by the Sarpanch, Panch members, and villagers.
As the daylight faded, his team visited the remote villages of Kuske and Kotigao Panchayat around 9 pm. The locals eagerly waited for the Member of Parliament. He shared a meal with them and patiently listened to theirgrievances-especiallythose related to forest areas and the lack of road access to remote houses in the villages.