What an irony this! The State government has floated a tender worth Rs 23.1 crore to beautify Usgao, while also tendering a Rs 23.4 crore administrative block at Morod, Mapusa. All of this when the State coffers are empty and the borrowings are rising. While the logic behind choosing Usgao for beautification is a matter of another debate, what is baffling is the Rs 23.1 crore being spent on beautification when government has just borrowed Rs 200 crore to pay salaries to its employees ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Despite the financial challenges it is facing, the government has gone ahead with projects which are not a need of the hour. This appears to be a question of misplaced priorities and fiscal imprudence, or should we call it appeasement of vote banks? How does one explain the spending when there are far more serious issues that are affecting the day-to-day lives of citizens?
Take for example the 6,336 farmers that have been affected by the recent floods in the State. The compensation is pegged at Rs 9 crore with crops grown on approximately 1,920 hectares washed away. It’s a most telling blow that nature has dealt on farmers and could cripple the agriculture sector. Payment of compensation to them is a priority if the government is serious about revival of agriculture.
While we have seen heated debates over fertilizer farming and the organic form and their outcomes on agriculture, there is very little that is being done to alleviate farmer distress. The government may have undertaken assessment and verification, but the process, in the absence of adequate manpower is going to be laborious and time-consuming, denying the farmers of timely relief. Also spare a thought for the aggrieved employees of South Goa Administration of Comunidades who have not been paid salaries for the past five months.
Another priority that is staring right in the face is the crippled water distribution network. The Curti-Khandepar pipeline damage has made life hell for residents of Tiswadi and Ponda for a week. There are Selaulim pipeline issues that haunt people of South Goa on a regular basis. The government itself has admitted to the fact that old pipelines need to be replaced. This is the grim scenario against the backdrop of the Centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission which strives to achieve sustainable water supply management across the country. Electricity distribution is another area which needs immediate attention and despite the ambitious promises made by subsequent power ministers, the common man continues to grope in the dark. What about the pathetic road infrastructure that gives motorists a harrowing time every monsoon? Lest we forget, the promised Cortalim diversion is yet to see the light of the day. If the government promises to deliver on Goemkarponn, it has to address issues affecting the life of the common Goemkar first and get the basics right. Beautifying villages and towns can wait.
