PANAJI
Taleigao strongman Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate released his manifesto promising a cleaner, greener and safer Panaji.
The manifesto released without an official press conference to announce it, has begun making its way to the doors of voters a week before the elections.
In his manifesto, Babush has rapped the BJP government in what he has termed as “planned vandalism” of the city pointing to the Miramar-Dona Paula road, other ruined public spaces even as he promised a solution to the garbage and parking problems, the Santa Inez Creek, as well as better facilities at the various parks and gardens.
For garbage solution, Monserrate has promised to set up a state-of-the-art garbage treatment and disposal plant at Taleigao where the land is already notified as a garbage dump.
To solve the parking woes, Monserrate promised new parking locations behind Junta House, opposite Don Bosco at the PWD garage, opposite Poshak in the market, national theatre, etc. as well as to introduce hop-on hop-off buses bringing in the buses which were bought through JNNURM funds but being used by the Kadamba Transport Corporation.
“Hop-on Hop-off buses brought through JNNURM funds which are with the KTC will be recalled and used in their rightful place,” he said in his manifesto adding that the eyesore opposite RTO, where seized and accident vehicles are dumped will be taken care of.
Speaking about the Santa Inez nullah and the Mala lake, Monserrate blamed the present dispensation for promising to clear it within 100 days of coming to power, but doing nothing except allowing further deterioration.
He has promised to desilt the creek and take care of settlements along the creek as well as ensuring that it is clean. Among other promises in the manifesto includes renovating the Panaji market, a new municipal building, development for Ribandar which is currently neglected, rejuvenation of gardens including that at the Church square, redesign of the Miramar beach entrance circle, walkway for Ponte de Linhares, a biodiversity park in the mangrove area and a huge redevelopment of the Parade ground with a running track, etc.
