CANACONA
After boycotting the last Lok Sabha polls to protest against the State’s government neglect towards basic facilities in their village, locals at Marlim-Poinguinim finally got their demands met when Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes launched development works, beginning with the repair of the 4-decade-old bridge at Marlim.
The works consist of repairs to the dilapidated bridge and construction of steps at Marlim temple, while Fernandes has also assured to take up construction of a retaining wall to stop landslides at a public hall constructed through donations of residents.
Poinguinim Sarpanch Jagdish Gaonkar stated residents had high hopes of development from politicians since 2009, but they had been let down by their former MLA.
“Our own person became MLA and went on to become a minister, but he could not attend to our grievances even though locals had approached him time and again. He did do some developments at other places, but ignored our areas (Marlim and Tirval),” said Gaonkar, in a direct reference to former minister Ramesh Tawadkar.
“We are finally getting our bridge, constructed 40 years ago and presently in very bad shape, repaired and other related works done only because of our present MLA. In the past, we also got electricity only because of Isidore Fernandes,” he added.
Fernandes said work to repair and construct the road to Marlim would begin by next month. He congratulated residents for their unity in taking up local and social issues.
“You all fought together and in fact, you all showed your unity not only to the State, but your protest became a national issue when you all boycotted the last Lok Assembly polls,” said Fernandes. “The road works, which were pending due to forest rules, is expected to begin from next month.”
Admitting it was the government’s duty to take up development works for the people, the deputy speaker also lauded the people for constructing a public hall with their own money.
“The government will provide a retaining wall so that the hall is not damaged by landslides,’ he said.
It may be recalled that all voters of Marlim-Tirval had boycotted the last Lok Sabha polls en mass to protest against the government’s failure to ensure proper facilities like a road, electricity supply and water supply to Marlim.
While Tirval which has a proper road as well as electricity and water supply, residents of Tirval also boycotted the polls in support of residents of Marlim, as both localities have the same polling booth at Marlim.
