the goan I network
MAPUSA
Picking holes in the manifestos of BJP and Congress for Mapusa, Independent candidate Ashish Shirodkar said both candidates listed similar issues which have been raised for the last 10 years.
He also said there were plans to construct a mall at the new Mapusa bus-stand and called it a scam which will be opposed by him.
“The two national parties have listed same issues like construction of Ravindra Bhavan and new bus stand and refurbishing the market in their manifesto which has been flogged a number of times. They have failed to give a time frame to complete the projects,” Shirodkar said.
The independent candidate was addressing a news conference in a city hotel on Friday.
Continuing, Shirodkar said the existing theatre of Hanuman Natyagraha could be taken up for renovation until the Ravindra Bhavan was in place.
“If given an opportunity, I will take the repair of Hanuman Natyagraha and Alankar theatre within six months and also initiate work for a Ravindra Bhavan in Mapusa,” he said.
Smelling a rat in the new bus stand project, Shirodkar said work on the new bus stand could have been taken up long back but it has got stuck because there were plans to build a mall at the site.
“Its a scam. I strongly oppose the concept of having a mall in the new bus stand which is coming close to the Mapusa market. I promise to initiate work on new bus stand minus the mall,” he said. He also shot down the project of constructing a multi-storeyed parking facility at the old bus stand site, which could easily accommodate 1,000 vehicles.
Shirodkar who was former chairperson said both the candidates of national parties were councillors for the last two years but failed to repair a toilet block in the municipal market.
“The funds for redevelopment of municipal market have been sanctioned by the government but it has got stuck as the council has failed to move relevant files,” he said. He also said that in spite of acquiring land to set up garbage treatment plant in Cunchelim for the last six years, the council, which the two candidates were part of, has failed to get things moving but dump the Mapusa waste near Ganeshpuri, Mapusa.
He promised to stop dumping waste at Ganeshpuri and set up a plant in Cunchelim within six months if elected to power.
