Will not comment on controversial issues: PWD mantri

Panaji: Power minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar on Wednesday said Congress itself is responsible for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) of the linear projects, including railway track-doubling through Goa, and added that it is ironic that the same party is now opposing the project.Meanwhile, PWD minister Digambar Kamat said he will not comment on controversial issues.“I have taken over charge of the PWD. Don’t try to play politics. This is my sincere request to you. I will not issue any statement on controversial issues. This is clear. This you may publish if you wish,” Kamat told reporters on Wednesday.Opposition members have been alleging that additional land is being acquired for the Hospet-Vasco track-doubling project to expand the coal-handling capacity in Goa, while the Railways and chief minister Pramod Sawant have said that the added land was being acquired only to provide access, stabilise land for houses, and correct any realignment mismatches.“I condemn Congress. This DPR was made during Congress’s tenure at Centre. When this was done back then, why are they shouting about it now? At that time, they had their prime minister at Centre. Did they not notice when the DPR was being prepared? It (any issues) should have been brought to notice after making the DPR around 2008-09.“Even when I was transport minister, all this project process was on, I remember. These same people were also opposing Konkan Railway way back,” said Dhavalikar.