Aliya Abreu
PANAJI
With the campaign for the May 19 bypoll for the prestigious Panjim Assembly seat steadily gaining momentum, long forgotten projects are returning to haunt the political parties and the debate over controversies surrounding these abandoned show-pieces.
The Mala lake beautification project, the adjacent North Goa Planning and Development Authority’s (NGPDA) market project and the re-construction of the famous Bandodkar grounds at Campal are three such projects long forgotten but expected to resurface in the discourse of the by-election campaign.
Resident of Mala, Raj Vaidya, who recently moved to the area, said that there were other issues which had a higher priority as far as the Panjim bypoll was concerned.
“However, we need to see a holistic plan for welfare of the city and Mala lake conservation is one of them,” he said, adding that the entire place bore a haunted look and residents had no clue as to the actual status of either of the projects, but that there has been some speculation.
Glenda Mascarenhas, a resident of Patto, and a teacher of environmental science in a city-based college said the Mala Lake beautification project definitely needs to be taken up, and that she would be asking any candidate who approached her this time. “There is so much pollution. Water is stagnant, and it definitely affects people living in the surrounding areas,” she said. As far the NGPDA market is concerned, Mascarenhas said, “The Panjim market is very close to the Mala area, and convenient for people to go, so there’s no need for another market. A recreational area surrounded by nature
would be better, she opined.
Another resident of Mala, a former sports journalist Jovito Lopes sounded pained. “It’s become a forgotten issue now. If the MLA couldn’t do anything for all these years, what is the hope for us?” he questioned. “Now there’s a war between the councillors and the commissioner of the CCP. This is not healthy. For a capital city, there has been no capital development. Manohar Parrikar and Siddharth Kuncalienkar could have done much more. If they have failed to do it, what can one expect now?” he lamented. When asked if he would raise the issues with the candidates who came to campaign, Lopes said, “For me, there’s no hope.”
Another issue that political parties have conveniently forgotten is the football ground at Campal.
Kabir Pinto Makhija, ex deputy mayor of the CCP expressed apprehension about traffic congestion and parking issues in the middle of the city that would be a consequence of having a football stadium constructed at the parade ground as proposed.
“The foundation stone for a football stadium with seating capacity of over 5,000 has been proposed and the foundation stone has been laid for the same. But what Panjim requires today is a multipurpose ground which can be used for football as well as for other sports and recreational activities by people of all ages,” he opined, adding that this project would best be shifted outside the city limits where there would be ample space for parking.
A government servant Amruta Shirodkar, who lives in the area said, “We don’t need exhibitions (currently being held on the ground) to be held in the city as it creates chaos. The ground should be transformed into a football ground alone. We have many points to which we will seek answers from the candidates.”
Polly Raikar, a resident of Campal said that Campal was in a mess. “There’s garbage on the ground. Not enough is being done,” he said. “People want development, but they want to know what’s the plan and how it will be executed. The candidates keep on promising, but nothing is being done. Their promises are false,” he added.
A teacher Shraddha Naik opined that first and foremost, the ground needs to be kept clean and be used for a specific purpose like sports and exercise. “The other activities can be held at Dr Shyama Prasad Stadium,” she said.
