Wants wider roads, footpaths, sewerage line instead of cable car pipedreams
Once known as the queen of beaches in Goa, Calangute isslowly losing its name and glory.
With haphazard constructions dotting the coastal belt,Calangute constituency has turned into a town planner’s nightmare.
From Calangute to Baga and Candolim to Siquerim the entirecoastal belt of Calangute has seen unlimited and illegal constructions.
Rules are bent and authorities are managed, right under thenose of the local civic body.
After a 10-year Congress rule, Calangute voted for a changegiving a mandate to BJP’s Michael Lobo, probably expecting new blood to bring arefreshing change to a constituency which is crying for attention.
“I do not want a cable car project in my constituency. Theneed of the hour is basic amenities in Calangute,” says the young CalanguteMLA, Michael Lobo.
And he may not be far from truth.
The world famous beaches in the constituency lack basicamenities like proper toilets and changing rooms. Garbage strewn all along theroads and on the beaches leaves an ugly impression on tourists who visit theState.
The MLA promises to change the landscape of the constituencyand carry out development which wasn’t done for the last several years.
Interestingly the MLA said that he was not waiting forgovernment funds and has already commenced work to create basic infrastructurefacilities including parking lots, toilets etc on the beaches by spending fromhis own pocket.
Lobo also promised to do away the malaise of drugs andprostitution, which has earned a bad name to his constituency.
Narrow roads have been the bane of the coastal constituency,which has the best beaches in the State.
To his credit the MLA has started work of widening thestretch from Calangute to Baga, something which appeared to be impossible a fewyears back.
“Calangute is lagging behind by at least 15 years by way ofestablishing proper infrastructure. Nevertheless, I will do my best and amconfident that I will fulfill all what was not done by my predecessor,” the MLAsaid.
“What Calangute needs is increase in FAR and the area nearCalangute need to be converted into commercial zone to create moreaccommodation and facilities for the tourists. But when this government willconsider the same is a million dollar question,” Lobe wondered aloud.
