Lobo says if reelected
focus will be on infra
LOBO'S PROMISES
No construction licenses for hotels and residential projects in Calangute village for the next six months until infrastructure improves
However, construction license will be given if a local wants to build a house
Giving sewage connections to residents is high on Lobo's priority list if re-elected.
THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Sitting MLA of Calangute Michael Lobo has said that if reelected he will not give construction licenses for hotels and residential projects in Calangute village for the next six months until infrastructure improves. Lobo, however, added that construction license will be given if a local wants to build his house.
Lobo’s rationale is that infrastructure in Calangute requires a lot of improvement and until that happens hotels and big residential projects should not be given permission because that will create further pressure.
Infrastructure problems in Calangute are huge, including lack of sewage network which has polluted ground-water. Secondly, there are no pavement at most places, no road access to a number of houses and lack of adequate parking for tourists and locals.
In fact, in several parts of Tivai Vaddo, Umta Vaddo and Maddo Vaddo, most locals don’t have a road access to their houses. The glitz and glamour of Calangute as a tourism destination is totally lost on them, as they don’t even have streetlights.
Although, Calangute panchayat has improved garbage collection, plastic, glass bottles and food waste can be seen scattered around. This is a result of lack of infrastructure.
In his tenure, Lobo took steps to address these problems. For instance, he got sewage pipelines laid between Baga and Ximer. But sewage connections to residents are still not given. Giving these connections will be high on priority for Lobo if he gets re-elected.
This is also important because people from Calangute village suffered for four years because roads were all dug up for sewage pipeline work. Now that work is over, the connections must be given as soon as possible.
