MARGAO
Can Madgavkars and Fatordekars look forward for a solution to the perennial and burning issues plaguing the commercial capital in the ensuing Assembly polls? Or, are the citizens destined to live with the perennial issues, with the politicians making tall promises come every election, only to be forgotten later, and the assurances confined in their election manifestos.
Like in almost every election, voters inhabiting the twin constituencies of Margao and Fatorda, comprising of the Commercial capital, may come across politicians handing out the same old promises -- an ultra-modern bus stand, resolve the Sonsodo and garbage crisis, a parking lot to overcome parking woes, tackle the stray dogs and cattle menace, streamline traffic woes, implement sewerage scheme, burial grounds for the dead to rest in pace et al.
Even as all these perennial issues facing the city remains unresolved for decades now, for reasons best known to the powers that be, voters in both Margao and Fatorda may find news and interesting promises this time round “ bringing the commercial capital under CCTV, a food court and an IT Park for the educated unemployed, etc.
As the main contestants in the fray go about unveiling their election manifestos in the run up to the polls, citizens of the two constituencies may wonder whether the manifestos or vision documents unveiled by the netas offers any hope to resolve the long-pending issues plaguing the city.
The Margao bus stand is a case in point. Both the BJP candidates, Dy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar (Margao) and Damu Naik (Fatorda) have batted for an ultra-modern bus stand for Margao. Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai, seeking re-election from Fatorda for the third consecutive term, has not lagged behind. He too has accorded priority for the construction of the ultra-modern bus stand.
The fact, however, remains that the foundation stone for the ultra-modern bus stand was laid exactly a decade ago when Margao MLA Digambar Kamat was the State’s Chief Minister. Ten years down, land admeasuring around 50,000 square metres is lying idle.
Margao and Fatorda areas are blessed with open public spaces, either owned by the Margao Municipal body or other government authorities, but a parking lot, a dire need in the commercial capital, has not become a reality till date in the two areas.
Sonsodo and garbage continues to remain the city’s eyesore. Even as a no-hold barred campaign is underway for supremacy in Margao and Fatorda, the Sonsodo waste treatment plant is almost saturated with daily garbage for want of treatment. Again, politicos of all hues have promised solution to the Sonsodo in their manifestos.
It will be close to four decades since an ambitious underground sewage project was launched in the city in the mid-80’s. The project, however, is yet to see the light of day till date. Two state-of-the-art sewerage treatment plants worth crores of rupees are in place, but remain underutilised for want of sewage.
Burial grounds are still a far cry for the city’s Muslim population and those of other religious denominations. The need to resolve the issue is reflected in the election manifestos of the contesting candidates, but the land acquired for burial grounds a decade ago at Sonsodo is still mired in controversy.
Plans to tackle the stray dogs and cattle menace has been confined to the papers. Despite tall talk by the politicians, the issue has taken the back seat in the city, with neither the government nor the local Margao civic body according priority to resolve the issue.
Traffic issues affecting the city too have not received due attention from the powers that be. In fact, plans to streamline traffic are being implemented piece meal and in slow mode over the years.
Almost all the contestants have promised to bring the city under the CCTV cover. Presently, the Big Brother has gone into a sleeping mode as the CCTV cameras remain defunct.
Incidentally, the main contestants in the fray, BJP’s Ajgoankar and Damu Naik, besides Goa Forward chief Sardesai has harped on providing food courts in both Margao and Fatorda.
That’s not all. Apparently with an eye on the educated unemployed, whose population is increasing by the day in Fatorda, both Sardesai and Damu have promised in their election manifestos to set up IT hub to resolve the issue of unemployment.
