the goan I network
MAPUSA
North Goa Planning and Development Authority Chairman and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Friday assured that government had no plans to accord municipality status to Calangute village and vowed to bring about planned development in the village.
“There are no plans to convert Calangute panchayat into a municipal council. Our aim is to develop Calangute village in a planned manner,” Lobo said while trying to dispel the rumours spread by his opponents during the campaign for panchayat elections.
The Calangute MLA was addressing a news conference along with his ‘Together for Calangute’ and ‘Candolim Development Front’ panels contesting the panchayat elections in Calangue and Candolim panchayats.
Making an impassionate appeal to the electorate to give his panel an opportunity, Lobo said Calangute has suffered, as whatever little development that has taken place in the village was in a haphazard manner.
“For last 30 years we have seen dictatorship in Calangute. Calangute has suffered for so many years only because of one man’s ego,” he said without taking names.
He said pressure has been put on people and notices have been sent to those who disagreed with the panchayat.
The Calangute MLA said ‘Together for Calangute’ panel that consists of a bunch of young and dynamic youth who have come out to bring a change in the village. “I am confident people will bring in the change in Calangute,”
he said.
Extending support to the ‘Candolim Development Front’ panel, Lobo said the only agenda for the election was development.
He said the Front has given three new faces to the village and it was for the people of Candolim to respond to the call of development.
“We have fulfilled our promise of clearing garbage from the Arradi dump site. All the garbage has been transferred to the Saligao waste treatment plant where it will be scientifically treated,” he said.
He further said a children’s park, volleyball court and jogger’s park are among some of the projects which will come up at Arradi, the same site which was cleared of all the waste.
The Calangute MLA said when the panchayat and the MLA are together, development takes place faster
and better.
