Goa’srichest panchayat had to wait over a decade to get approval for itsmulti-purpose project from the directorate of panchayat.
“Inthe previous government the directorate of panchayat tried finding faults inthe project. The file kept travelling back and forth between the directorate andthe panchayat. But after the new government took over the same file was clearedby the directorate within eight days,” said Joseph Sequeira former Calanguesarpanch and a panch now.
Thecomplex will house a market, community hall and a bus stand.
Theold Calangute market serves people in Calangute and surrounding villages of Candolim,Arpora, Saligao and Nerul. The small and congested old market is insufficient forthe large population in the area.
Theold market houses chicken and vegetable vendors besides a number of fishvendors.
“Weare selling fish here since generations. Initially the market had no shed. Wewere promised that a new market would be constructed. But so far nothing has happened,”said Marie Fernandes, a fish vendor in Calangute.
Withan aim of providing better market facility to locals, the Calangute panchayatproposed a multipurpose complex in 1998. Land measuring 36,000 sq mts wasacquired by the panchayat on the outskirts of the village and the file was sentfor administrative approval to the Directorate of Panchayat in 1998. The newmarket was to be funded by the panchayat and a private party. Plans were alsodrawn.
“Nowthe work on the project will be undertaken under the central government schemeof tourist cluster development. The new market and bus stand project isexpected to be completed within two years”, Sequeira said.
