CIVIC LAPSE UNDER SPOTLIGHT: The newly renovated public toilet block at the Mapusa Municipal Market has reopened after nearly 10 years, sparking debate among vendors and residents over the prolonged delay in providing basic civic amenities. Photo by Agnel
A basic civic amenity that should have been routine infrastructure turned into a decade-long wait for vendors and citizens at the Mapusa Municipal Market, raising serious questions about governance, accountability and priorities within the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC).
The reconstructed public toilet facility near the Shantadurga Hotel in the market complex was finally inaugurated on April 20 by Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza in the presence of MMC chairperson Priya Mishal, Vice Chairperson Prakash Bhivshet and other officials with much fanfare, presenting the construction as a significant step in improving civic amenities.
However, beneath the celebratory optics lies a prolonged history of delay.
The facility replaces a toilet block that had remained shut for over a decade, forcing thousands of daily vendors, shoppers and especially women, to cope without access to basic sanitation in one of North Goa’s busiest commercial hubs.
Members of the Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) and local stakeholders had repeatedly flagged the issue over the years through representations, protests and public appeals.
Despite this, the project saw little progress, highlighting what many describe as a systemic failure of the civic body to prioritise essential infrastructure.
The delay is particularly striking given that both the MMC and the State government have been under the same political leadership for years, raising questions about coordination and administrative efficiency.
Critics argue that while large-scale schemes and campaigns have been promoted, the inability to deliver a basic facility like a public toilet in a major municipal market reflects poorly on governance at multiple levels.
Vendors point out that the lack of sanitation was not just an inconvenience but a matter of dignity and public health.
“This was not a luxury project. It was a necessity that should have been addressed years ago,” said a trader associated with the market.
The inauguration has also triggered debate over the culture of celebrating delayed projects.
While the upgraded facility and improved pay-parking area are expected to ease congestion and sanitation concerns, some residents question whether such developments should be framed as achievements when they arrive years late.
Attention is now shifting to maintenance – an area where the MMC has faced criticism in the past.
Several civic facilities in Mapusa, including sections of the fish and vegetable market, continue to struggle with poor upkeep, hygiene issues and inadequate waste management.
With the toilet facility finally operational, stakeholders say the real test begins now.
