MARGAO
When the government had initiated land acquisition proceedings to acquire land admeasuring around six lakh square metres at Cuncolim for the National Institute of Technology (NIT) around a decade ago in 2013, Cuncolkars, in general, rallied behind the project, even silencing voices of dissent against the project.
Reason: Pro-NIT project supporters were of the firm belief that the state-of-the-art permanent campus will put Cuncolim on the country’s education map and the villagers' sacrifice in terms of land would not go in vain.
However, little did they realize that the existing educational institutions in town comprising high schools, higher secondary schools and a college, located within a radius of 200 metres, are craving attention for better and common amenities – be it sports facilities et al.
Otherwise, consider this. Educational institutions have reopened on Monday after a break, but the old issues, including traffic and parking woes, besides the absence of playgrounds for the students are back to haunt the students, parents and the administrators.
Day one of school reopening saw Cuncolim police station in-charge PI Tukaram Chawan and his staff descending on the ground to regulate traffic in the morning and afternoon sessions. The movement of heavy vehicles on the road passing by these three educational institutions came to an abrupt halt, while the light vehicles were diverted via the Voddy road.
Parents who had come to drop or collect their wards had to hunt for parking spots around these institutions.
That’s not all. On the eve of the school reopening, Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao had gone in a huddle with the representatives of these educational institutions to discuss how best to overcome traffic congestion along the road, not just on day one of the school reopening, but throughout the academic year.
Take note, a notification issued by the South Goa district Magistrate on June 19, 2015, which is in force for the last seven years, regulating the entry and exit at certain points along the main road and the Voddy road, has thrown up a host of questions - how long will these short term measures aimed at regulating traffic remain in force or should the rulers and the powers give serious thought to work out a permanent solution to the issues plaguing these institutions and the student community?
Remarked a parent: “If Cuncolkars had rallied behind the government to acquire the village land admeasuring lakhs of square metres for the NIT project, why can’t we demand that the government make available suitable land so that all these educational institutions facing issues of traffic and parking, besides the absence of basic infrastructure, including playgrounds, are located at one place a la Cujira educational hub, Bambolim.”
The parent added: “Today is June 6, 2022, and the authorities, school administrators, students and parents are facing a whole lot of issues. Just imagine what would be the situation around these educational institutions by 2050. It’s high time the people of Cuncolim join hands to work out a permanent solution on how to go about addressing these issues.”
Another parent pointed out that none of the three institutions has a spacious playground for the children to play.
“These institutions have to avail the SAG ground to hold sports activities. Isn't it time that these institutes go for common educational facilities, including recreational areas for the benefit of the children,” the parent wondered.
MLA, school management call for measures to address issue
MARGAO
Local MLA Yuri Alemao and the management of one of the Cuncolim schools have called for immediate measures to address the traffic issues affecting the schools and the public at large.
When the Goan called up the treasurer of the Cuncolim Education Society Dilip Desai to find out whether there is any hope to address the traffic issues, he pointed out that a proposal was mooted over a decade ago to build a bypass, beginning from Raghoba Dessai residence to the Cuncolim bus stand. This proposal, he said, was even agreed upon by the then district Collector, G P Naik, but could not be taken to the logical conclusion for want of land.
“The bypass road can resolve some of the traffic issues affecting the educational institutions,” Desai said.
Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao pointed out that traffic and parking issues have come to haunt the institutions as well as the students, parents and the public at large.
“During the tenure of former MLA Joaquim Alemao, a proposal was mooted to connect the KTC bus stand to the Voddy road. It could not see the light of the day since the land in question was not acquired,” he said.
Asked whether he has any plans along the lines of the Cujira educational hub to bring the Cuncolim educational institutions to one place to resolve the traffic and parking issues and also make available common amenities, Yuri said the stakeholders should deliberate and debate on the issue taking into account the long term needs of these institutions and the interest of the student fraternity.
