MAPUSA
In a dramatic turn of events, Mapusa Councilor Tarak Arolkar has voiced strong frustrations over roadwork delays in his constituency, calling for the reversion of two wards from Aldona to Mapusa.
The dispute centres on perceived negligence by local MLAs in addressing critical infrastructure needs in wards 7 and 8, which fall under Aldona's jurisdiction due to a decade-old delimitation process.
The tension began when Arolkar, representing Mapusa's ward 7 and ward 8 represented by his Vikas Arolkar “ sought to advance road repair projects.
Both wards were reassigned to the Aldona constituency during a delimitation exercise carried out ten years ago.
This change has since led to complications in securing necessary approvals and support for local infrastructure projects.
The roadwork controversy
Arolkar’s frustration peaked when he attempted to initiate hotmixing projects for two roads within his wards.
According to Arolkar, the Public Works Department (PWD) executive engineer handling the case required a recommendation letter from the local MLA of the constituency.
Despite his efforts, Arolkar claims he received no positive response from either of the MLAs on two separate occasions.
“The local MLAs have shown a lack of commitment towards addressing the road repair needs in my wards. Their inability to support these projects has left me with no option but to escalate the matter,” Arolkar said.
In light of the stalled progress and perceived indifference from the local legislators, Arolkar has escalated the issue to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also serves as the Minister for PWD.
Arolkar has formally requested Sawant’s intervention to ensure that the road repairs are undertaken promptly, citing the failure of the local MLAs to provide necessary assurances.
“I have reached out to Chief Minister Sawant in the hope that his involvement will expedite the repair works. The lack of support from the local MLAs has been disheartening,” Arolkar stated.
Call for reversion
Further exacerbating his frustration, Arolkar has advocated for the reversion of wards 7 and 8 back to the Mapusa constituency.
He argues that this change would enhance coordination and improve responsiveness to local infrastructure needs.
“The administrative challenges and delays we've faced underline the need for these wards to be part of the Mapusa constituency once again. This reversion would ensure better oversight and quicker action on critical roadworks,” Arolkar explained.
The ongoing issue underscores broader concerns about constituency boundaries and their impact on local governance. The delimitation that placed wards 7 and 8 under Aldona has sparked debate about the efficiency of such arrangements and the adequacy of representation for affected residents.
