Elections, particularly the assembly or parliament demand substantial investment from the State exchequer. Funds are directed toward the establishment of polling booths, recruitment and training of polling staff, ensuring security, securing EVMs, and preparing strong rooms, among other logistical necessities. The cost can run into several lakhs if not crores. However due to the cancellation of by-polls in Ponda, on the eve of the polling day due to glaring glitches in the electoral process, all this public resources appears to have gone down the drain.
In the end, people of Ponda, a vital city in the state, are left without representation in the state legislative assembly until elections in 2027. Obviously the government cannot be totally responsible for the goof-up. However this incident highlights a recurring problem in Goa of wasteful expenditure of public funds, which often happens without clear, measurable outcomes.
Over the years there have been multiple instances where large amounts of public money have been spent on projects that were eventually scrapped. One such example is the much-publicized Unity Mall project in Chimbel, for which an astounding Rs. 25 crores were spent before it was ultimately abandoned. Similarly, the Bhandara project at Mirabag, another initiative that initially saw heavy investment, was scrapped after people’s protest. Rather than allocating crores of rupees to incomplete or failed projects, the government could have channeled the resources into initiatives that directly benefit the people.
Investments in healthcare, education, infrastructure development, and welfare programs would have a far-reaching positive impact on society. The government must introduce stringent mechanisms for evaluating the feasibility of projects before their initiation. Public consultations, comprehensive feasibility studies, and better project management systems would go a long way in ensuring that public money is spent wisely. Citizens should have the trust that their hard-earned money is being used for their benefit.
