Founded in 1543, Vasco da Gama has the unique distinction ofbeing amongst the oldest planned cities in Asia. With sprawling streets, neatrows of buildings and footpaths lined with Ashoka trees, Vasco is a picturepostcard for an urban planner. But scratch the surface and the city seems tofall apart at its seams. Even the city’s leaders have done very little to buildmuch needed projects “ the market, underground cabling, modernisation of thebus stand, the garbage treatment plant or completion of NH-17B -- in the port town.
For starters, one does not need to look at majorinfrastructural projects. Even small government offices have a sordid tale totell. An overcrowded civil supply office with heaps of files, old furniture andnoisy ceiling fan reveals a sorry state of affairs in Vasco. Jose Philip D’Souza was a minister for civil supplies for two terms, but could do nothing tochange the tide. However, the frequent change of guard is also considered asone of the factors for lack of development in Vasco. Since the 1989 assemblypolls, not a single sitting MLA either in Vasco or Mormugao have managed toretain their seats in the subsequent assembly elections and further incumbentMLAs are reluctant to carry forward projects proposed by theirpredecessors. “There’s no point inblaming the municipality. These projects require big money and withoutgovernment’s support it is impossible to fructify them,” Almeida said.
