CONSTITUENCY WATCH - QUEPEM
With one municipal council and as many eight panchayats under its vast jurisdiction, Quepem constituency is one of the largest constituencies in the State.
Representing the constituency which has diverse communities and topography, while also promoting projects in the vast territory, is both an opportunity and a challenge for the legislator from Quepem constituency.
DEVELOPMENTAL PROJECTS
Quepem's three-time Congress MLA Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar may have found it easier to promote development in the constituency while the Congress-led government was in power prior to 2012, but his situation has changed as an opposition MLA with BJP in power.
And it has not been easy for Quepem constituency to witness development with an opposition MLA. Most areas have had problems pertaining to water supply, electricity, road connectivity and transportation. While some key development projects are yet to be completed, others are either still stuck in the pipeline or have been underutilised.
Kavlekar has claimed credit for starting major projects in parts of Quepem constituency, such as the new building for the Quepem Primary Health Centre, a commercial complex and sports complex.
Providing a parallel bridge in Quepem, laying a Rs 17 crore pipeline to augment water supply in various affected villages, development of over 40 bandharas and improving road connectivity across villages are other projects that Kavlekar claims to have initiated during his three-term as MLA.
Kavlekar also hopes to upgrade the Ambaulim Diao Playground, rebuild the old fish and vegetable market in Quepem and start the Quepem bus stand cum community hall project.
However, the many stalled, incomplete, underutilised and controversial projects in Quepem constituency have left many wondering about Kavlekar's capabilities and performance as MLA.
In Naqueri-Betul and neighbouring village panchayats, residents had voiced their opposition to the DefExpo project at Betul and have also opposed the Satellite Port which is also proposed at Betul. Many people from these areas insist that infrastructure such as health centre, a new panchayat ghar, community hall, gymnasium, etc, are projects of greater need in the area, before the government can set up mega projects.
A number of beaches and the Cabo da Rama fort along Quepem's coast were earmarked for beautification, but development was reportedly stalled due to a financial crunch.
Similar is the case with the new building of the Quepem Health Centre, which is yet to be put to full use mainly due to political wrangling. The dilapidated municipal quarters in Bhatlem area was also held up due to pending clearances.
The Quepem Municipal Council's commercial complex has also been unutilised for several months. Kavlekar is hopeful that the complex will be put to use and he also hopes to set up the Nagar library.
Kavlekar admits that the projects in his constituency may have been deliberately held up by the government as he has been an opposition MLA. But he is confident that the projects would begin or get completed in the near future.
ROAD CONNECTIVITY
Providing proper road connectivity in a large constituency like Quepem is always a key issue for people in the area.
Although most roads in Quepem constituency have been tarred and are motorable, some key road projects have been held up much to the anger of the locals.
There has been a long-pending demand for a Quepem Bazaar bypass or link road, to divert mining traffic away from Quepem town and Tilamol junction. This demand gathered momentum especially after a fatal mishap involving a mining truck and a two-wheeler at Tilamol, leading to large-scale protests in the area.
Kavlekar claimed to have pursue the land acquisition process for the proposed Taak-Shirvoi bypass road some years ago, but the project is yet to see the light of day.
During his term in power, Kavlekar built a parallel bridge for the smooth flow of traffic and the project has been effective in managing traffic in the area.
Parking space has been a perennial problem for motorists in the heart of Quepem town. CCTV cameras were set up in the town and traffic violators caught on camera were penalised with fines. This drew protests from locals who argued that the fines were not justified as there was no specified parking space in place.
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MLA SPEAK
CHANDRAKANT (BABU) KAVLEKAR
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There are many stalled, incomplete and underutilised projects in Quepem constituency. Are you satisfied with your performance as MLA?
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Quepem constituency is a vast area with diverse topography. When I became MLA for the first term I concentrated on fulfilling basic infrastructure and needs of the constituency. We have a neighbouring taluka like Salcete, which is better developed than Quepem. I accorded first preference to provide electricity, water supply and road connectivity in Quepem constituency.
I also want to improve the quality of education and infrastructure in the education sector. Employment opportunities should be made available to the youth of my constituency and I feel that industries should come up so that locals get employment.
Regarding the incomplete projects, I took up the initiative of having two PHCs in my constituency, one at Balli and another at Quepem. The Balli Health Centre was completed and made operational, but the new Quepem PHC building is yet to be inaugurated due to various reasons. I feel the work has been kept pending because my opponents don't want the credit to come to me.
The old Quepem police station will be upgraded shortly. The Taak-Shirvoi bazaar bypass was also taken up by me and I had even done the land acquisition work a few years ago. But the BJP government has not taken up the work of link road. The beach beautification and renovation of Cabo-da-Rama fort project is going at snail speed due to the government's financial crunch. The tourism minister has told us to take up one beach at a time for beautification. Most developmental works in Quepem is going slow as I am from the opposition party.
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Despite all these challenges, are you still confident about contesting the next election?
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I will surely contest this election as I have no reason not to contest. I have full faith on the people of Quepem constituency that they will again elect me once again.
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DISSENTING VOICE
PRAKASH VELIP, FORMER MLA
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How do your rate the development in Quepem constituency?
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I would rate it as very low or below poor. The present MLA lacks vision and all work is done in a haphazard manner without proper planning. He has not done anything for people of the tribal community in Quepem constituency. The downtrodden and needy people are left as they are without benefiting from any development.
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What at the issues that you feel need to be addressed on a priority basis in Quepem constituency?
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Issues such as acute water shortage in villages of Quepem constituency need to be addressed especially during the summer. The other issues are power shut downs and poor road connectivity in some interior places. Some projects such as the sports complex, new Primary Health Centre building are not maintained properly. The recent incident where the newly-tarred Quepem market road got washed away leaving potholes at several places was a sheer waste of money.
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Are you planning to contest the upcoming assembly election?
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It is up to the party to decide. I will go with BJP party's decision. If party is willing to give me the ticket to contest from Quepem constituency, then I will contest. In any case, I am continuing with my social work. Quepem constituency needs a well qualified MLA with a vision to bring about development.
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PEOPLE'S VOICES
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“Development in the entire Quepem constituency has been haphazardly done without any planning. What we need is a link road, because the road from Tilamol to Paroda is so narrow that it creates problems relating to vehicular transportation and is not feasible to transport ore, etc. Other developmental projects such as a sports complex, swimming pool, playground is not of the required size and fall short. The swimming pool should have been of an olympic-sized pool and the ground should have been bigger. People are not clear about the new Primary Health Centre building, whether it is functional or not.”
- Muktesh Prabhudessai,
Agriculturist, Quepem
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“Development is necessary but works which are needed are not given priority. Assurances by the South Goa MP and others that they would build a retaining wall at Canaguinim beach area have not been fulfilled as yet. Babu Kavlekar is pursuing the works. The panchayat ghar at Betul, Primary Health Centre, etc, are some projects which Kavlekar has been regularly following up on, but the fact is the files are not moving fast and these works have been taking a lot of time. But when the government wants, works can be done swiftly, such as the tarring and road for DefExpo, etc.”
- Delfi Barbosa
Taxi Operator, Cananguinim
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“Enter Quepem constituency from any side and be prepared to see dirty, old, rusted, bent road safety sign boards, unpainted speed breakers and poor roads. Visit the heart of Quepem town and it's the same situation. Haphazard and unplanned parking only adds to the woes. For many years, authorities have adopted a lackadaisical approach towards even the most basic of facilities. The Quepem town bypass, which is a need of the hour, would have ushered in development. Some unfinished projects such as Quepem town market complex, municipal market shops, new primary health centre infrastructure, Quepem sports complex, etc, are either not done properly or are underutilised.”
- Allwyn Menezes
Businessman, Quepem
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"Major infrastructure needs to be utilised properly. There is a lot of scope to upgrade and beautify Quepem town. The new primary health centre building was completed some years ago but people do not know if it is fully functional and if can cater to their needs in medical emergencies. The Quepem bazaar bypass link road is yet to see the light of day. Quepem constituency should be developed keeping aside any political differences between the Quepem MLA and the government.”
- Anuj Talaulikar
Company Sales Manager, Quepem
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“Right from the Portuguese days, the situation of Quepem has remained largely the same with no major development. Some projects such as a fish market in Quepem needs to be constructed as presently, fish vendors and other meat vendors sit together and do business in the most unhygienic condition. Development needs to be done with a vision and keeping in mind the needs of the people.”
- Harshad Dessai
Company employee, Quepem
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"Major infrastructure such as playgrounds, a swimming pool, gymnasium, walking track, new primary health centre building, parallel bridge, etc, came up during MLA Babu Kavlekar's term, which was not present before. The present MLA is from the opposition party but his constant follow ups with development works have resulted in some new projects for Quepem constituency.”
- Damodar Naik
Retired Panchayat employee, Kotta-Amona, Quepem
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“Being an opposition MLA, Kavlekar has tried his best to promote development projects in Quepem constituency. Compared to other constituencies, Quepem is a geographically larger and has a greater rural area. But despite these challenges, various major projects such as a sports complex, parallel bridge in Quepem, internal road hotmixing, upgraded PHC, etc, was done by Kavlekar. I feel some sort of development is being seen in Quepem constituency.”
- Pundalik Shetkar
Businessman, Shirvoi, Quepem
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year Winner Party Votes Runner Up Party Votes
1989 Prakash Velip MAG 9229 Govind Gauns Desai INC 4919
1994 Prakash Velip MAG 7579 Raul Pereira IND 4335
1999 Prakash Velip MAG 5648 Raul Pereira INC 5509
2002 Chandrakant Kavlekar INC 8913 Prakash Velip BJP 7058
2007 Chandrakant Kavlekar INC 9474 Prakash Velip BJP 8311
2012 Chandrakant Kavlekar INC 10994 Prakash Velip IND 4621
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Winners and Losers in 2012
Constituency TOTAL ELECTORS:28898
Candidate Age Party Votes Polled Voting %
CHANDRAKANT KAVALEKAR 40 INC 10841 44.22
PRAKASH SHANKAR VELIP 59 IND 4553 18.59
PRAKASH ARJUN VELIP 35 MAG 4438 18.25
COLACO MANUEL 57 UGDP 4320 17.52
JOSEPH GONSALVES 47 GVP 353 1.42
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Outline
Quepem constituency comprises Fatorpa, Barcem, Quepem (MCL), Naqueirim, Avedem of Quepem Taluka; villages: Cordem, Adnem, Bendorem and Tiloi in Ambaulim Saza of Quepem Taluka, and Cola Saza in Canacona Taluka
