MARGAO
A children’s park at Malbhat in the heart of the commercial capital along the Margao station road has become the latest casualty of apathy by the local civic body to a project executed and commissioned under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme.
It’s not even five years since the children’s park was inaugurated under the MPLAD scheme through former South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar. The project, which soon turned into a centre for recreation for the children, now stands as a symbol of neglect and apathy and has joined a host of MPLAD projects in the city craving attention for want of upkeep.
The growth of vegetation greets one at the children’s park. A couple of play items are awaiting replacement. The boundary wall of the park has come in handy for clothes drying, turning the park into an eyesore.
Margao BJP block president and former Margao municipal councillor Rupesh Mahatme said lack of maintenance has resulted in the present state of affairs of the children’s park.
“Lakhs of rupees were spent on the park, which gave an avenue to the children of the area to spend their leisure time. But, the park is craving attention for want of upkeep by the civic body,” he said.
He added: “Under the MPLAD scheme, the local body, in the instant case, the Margao Municipal Council, is given the responsibility to look after the upkeep of the MPLAD project. The district Collector, who is the nodal officer under the MPLAD scheme, should get the Margao municipality to repair the park”.
He pointed out that another project, a gymnasium was built under the MPLAD scheme, close to the children’s park, during the tenure of former MP Ramakhant Angle, adding the Collector should find out the status of the building.
A host of projects executed in the commercial capital under the MPLAD scheme of sitting MP Francisco Sardinha too has been craving attention. The Rs 70 lakh Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) project, executed under the MPLAD scheme in 2014 in the city is down and lying in the dumps.
