Beautify Panaji
This election was quite interesting, if one looked at the politics at play in the city. There is no doubt that the BJP has a strong opponent in Babush Monserrate, although the Taleigao man has a lot to do if he aims to fight for the MLA seat in Goa’s capital. He will have opposition, but the current MLA is not as powerful as the former, although the latter will surely come down to campaign for his party and his former right hand man. Panaji needs a strong infrastructure boost, one that hasn’t really happened for the past few terms. There have been small works here and there but many problems that existed a decade ago still do. Surely something needs to be done about this? The CCP with the new mayor has their task cut out. Now Furtado will have to prove himself, since he did not really get a chance the last time around. He also has the full support of Monserrate. But in the next Assembly elections, whoever gets the MLA seat will have to work with the city fathers and make sure there is respite from issues for Panaji. There is also a need to beautify the city with the St Inez creek being a priority, as well as proper waste management. The dump in Campal is an eyesore.
Carlos Misquitta, Caranzalem
Tough road
Atlast there seems to be some hope of stability at the CCP. There are reports that Babush Monserrate is interested in giving the new Mayor strong support and perhaps even a longer term than before to stabilize the panel. This is a good decision. In the past the revolving door at the mayor level may have kept many happy by giving them a chance to be mayor but so many decisions were changed and circumvented. In an interview in today’s The Goan Everyday, Furtado refers to so many of them. A permanent mayor means that there will be some system in place to ensure that decisions made and followed through. This is perhaps one of the only ways to help Panaji improve and develop. We have many issues that need checking, mainly the garbage dump and the traffic issue. We need large-scale changes to be made. Hopefully, that will happen.
Bhushan Kamat, Panaji
No systems
The haphazard work going on in Mapusa has only made a bad situation worse. Mapusa developed quite badly over the decades. We had narrow roads, no proper parking, no proper planning and serious problems in traffic. Now with work going on across the city, or past work having ruined roads, it is a pain to live in Mapusa. We have housing complexes being built but who will want to come live here. If you look at the way the MMC has been functioning, it will only make matters worse. No wonder the citizen groups are up in arms. Hopefully the sewerage systems will work properly, otherwise we will be back to square one.
Sanjay Naik, Mapusa
