Goa sparkled in revelry with locals and tourists ushering in the New Year 2019 with pomp. Despite the drop in tourists, an air of festivity prevailed with late night parties and fireworks lighting up the midnight skyline. Underneath the surface, the mood is however distinctly different.
Goans will introspect and remember 2018 as a disastrous year, a year which has left behind a trail of frustration and resentment among people. A year which saw numerous unaccomplished promises and failed deadlines, one where government failed to achieve its avowed objective of Goenkarponn. A situation which provides no options, only hope.
The year 2018 almost entirely revolved around the health of ailing chief minister Manohar Parrikar. It was a year where uttering words like pancreatic cancer turned eyeballs. A year where every move of the CM made headlines, right from his sitting, waving, his chats with his cabinet colleagues, his signatures and not forgetting the photo-ops which were met with suspicion and triggered debates.
It was a year where people and senior members in the government were equally confused on the health of the CM. A year which saw senior members of the government including TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral and the most vocal Calangute MLA Michael Lobo taking turns to speak of a collapse in administration. Some have taken U-turns subsequently, but that’s a different story.
It was a year where Opposition Congress soaked themselves in theatrics and scored brownie points on trivial issues, rather than taking up major public issues like orchard land conversion. An opposition which constantly monitored the chief minister’s health in greater detail, more than even the doctors attending on him. And in the bargain content in remaining out of focus on every other subject.
It was a year of empty promises. Plastic eradication, garbage disposal, open defecation, employment and a host of crucial reforms that failed to take off. A year which saw the State government completely failing to honour its promise of a solution to vexed mining imbroglio. A year which saw people losing its trust on the Health Ministry after its flip-flop on formalin-in-fish issue. A year that saw farmers revolting against the government proposal of using their land for approach roads to solve the Cortalim traffic diversion issue. A year where MoI committee chief Bhaskar Nayak continued to play hide-and-seek with his promised report. And the list can go on.
The worries are far from over. The new CRZ regulations are threatening to swallow Goa’s coastline. There is traffic chaos waiting to greet Goans with highway works picking up pace. While Goa welcomes 2019 with a warm embrace, it remains to be seen how the government weathers the storms and covers lost ground to re-establish a connect with people.
