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THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
The BJP released its manifesto for the Mapusa constituency on Sunday, with focus on development /infrastructure works but with no timelines on beginning or completion of the projects.
A cursory glance of the manifesto reveals that most of the proposed works appeared in previous BJP manifestos of Mapusa and has just been repackaged this time around.
The vision document has listed implementation of Town Planning Scheme in Down Town Mapusa ‘Bodgeshwar Plaza’.
Surprisingly, the idea to develop new areas in Mapusa under the Town Planning Scheme was first floated by former CM Manohar Parrikar around four years back and presently some citizens have approached the High Court in the matter.
Similarly, the manifesto has proposed construction of Ravindra Bhavan, art museum and multi-purpose community hall with dedicated parking.
The issue of construction of Ravindra Bhavan has been making its way into the BJP’s manifesto for the last two terms with no concrete plans on the project.
Interestingly, the plan to construct Ravindra Bhavan hinges on the implementation of the Town Planning Scheme and considering that the matter is in Court, this project may not see the light of day any time soon.
The BJP has also assured to ensure speedy construction and commissioning of state-of-the-art bus-stand and multi-level parking facility in the manifesto.
In the first phase to develop the new bus stand, land-filling of 20,000 sq metre was carried out at Rs 1.32 crore in 2015. Thereafter there was no headway on the project.
“The transport department which is constructing the bus stand has obtained all necessary approvals and work on the project will begin soon after monsoons,” informed Joshua D’Souza.
The vision document also harps on construction of new bridge over Tar River, implementation of Master Plan for refurbishing the Mapusa market and implementation of a traffic management plan to decongest the city.
All these issues were taken up earlier and the Mapusa Municipal Council has also passed resolutions to take it forward but those resolutions have been gathering dust for quite some time.
Shifting of scrap yards outside the city, underground power cabling, overhauling of water distribution network, relocation of major government offices, schools and warehousing to the periphery of the city and several other issues have been included in the manifesto.
All in all, the manifesto is a perfect document which lists all the issues that dogs the city and appears good on paper.
But the million dollar question is when and whether the projects will ever see the light of day?
Former chief minister, Laxmikant Parsekar along with former Tivim MLA, Kiran Kandolkar were present while releasing the manifesto on Sunday in presence of BJP candidate, Joshua D’Souza, Chairperson, Ryan Braganza, all the ruling councilors and Mapusa mandal office-bearers.
