ARPITA SRIVASTAVA | NT
MAPUSA: Traffic congestions due to the narrow roads, irregular water supply, garbage mismanagement, and frequent power cuts with voltage fluctuation are the major issues being faced in the Siolim constituency.
The villagers over the years have been demanding solution to all these, but the relief is yet to come.
The constituency is located on the bank of Chapora river, and has got two beaches – Anjuna and Vagator, with no basic infrastructure like proper roads, streetlights, and regular water supply, and the same is case throughout the constituency.
The locals have been facing problems of water supply disruption and power outages on a daily basis, and despite the issues being raised at various platforms, the relief is still awaited.
The overhead electricity cables in the village are old, and even though there was a proposal to set up a sub-station at Assagao, nothing has happened so far about it.
A local from Anjuna Hanumant Govekar said, “For the last 17 years, there has been no improvement in the situation in the Anjuna village despite it being a tourist spot. We neither have proper roads nor proper water supply. An overhead water tank, that was constructed some years ago, has not been commissioned till date.” The problem of garbage management is another issue which is being faced throughout the constituency.
Garbage is being dumped along the roads, giving a shabby appearance to the village. Whether it is the entrance of Siolim-Marna from Mapusa or the internal roads of Assagao, garbage is found dumped everywhere.
“Garbage disposal is a major problem which needs to be addressed without any further delay. In Assagao, we don’t have garbage disposal problem as such, but the garbage from coastal areas is brought and dumped along the roads here,” said Einstein Barreto, Assagao resident.
He further said, “Compared to the previous terms, during this term, the MLA has done better work in Assagao. He has given us better roads and other infrastructure. But he could have done better in the rest of the constituency, especially, in the coastal belt, where the situation is the same as it was in 1942. There is no improvement in the facilities for the tourists there.”
The issue of stray cattle was often being raised during the gram sabhas in the constituency, but no solution has yet been proposed to tackle that. During the nighttime, the two wheeler riders are at a great risk due to the stray cattle.
Moreover, the constituency has narrow roads, which are also not properly maintained.
“The villagers have been denied good roads. For the last many years, the road proceeding from Anjuna to Mapusa via Assagao is in a bad shape, and no efforts were made to repair it,” said Reena Naik
Besides the demand for basic infrastructure, renovation of Chapora jetty and construction of breakwater are the two other demands, which are yet to be fulfilled.
Due to the formation of a sandbar at the mouth of the River Chapora, the fishermen from the area face a great hardship while venturing out for fishing.
Sandesh Khorjuekar said, “It has been more than eight-nine years, the Chapora boat owners have been demanding renovation of the Chapora jetty and construction of breakwater so that the problem of sandbar formation is resolved. Currently, due to the sandbar, trawlers and even small canoes face difficulty while venturing into the sea for fishing.” He further said that “the fisheries department had started the work on that but now it is completely stopped.”
The sitting MLA has been promising to renovate the Chapora fort since the time he was elected, but till date nothing has been done on that front.
Balbhim Malvankar, a Chapora resident said that “our MLA has been promising for the last many years that he would undertake beautification of Chapora fort but till date he has not done anything about it. Just before the announcement of the election, he has started with the construction of a road to the fort without taking the local panchayat and local people into confidence.”
Works like anti-sand erosion measures at the Anjuna beach, beautification of Anjuna lake, construction of footbridge and nullah at Aframentwada, Tito bridge and nullah at Anjuna, protection wall at Gude-Danda, bundh and protection wall at Oxel besides the construction of drains, nullah, and retaining walls were undertaken in the constituency by the MLA during the last five years.
Gajanand Bhetkar, a senior citizen said that “we have demanding a new bridge at entrance of Anjuna village i.e. Tito bridge for last many years, and finally the MLA has fulfilled our demand by constructing a broad bridge.”
Another local Chandan Parab said that “almost for decades, massive sand erosion was taking place at the Anjuna beach, and no attempts were made to prevent it, but the BJP-led government undertook some measures, due to which sand erosion has been reduced drastically.”
The locals have opposed Chapora riverfront project claiming that it would not benefit them.
The locals later moved the NGT and managed to get stay on the project, but the people, whose land was utilised for the project, are in favour of the project, claiming that the project will add touristic value to the area. The constituency is all set to witness a multi-corner fight among Abhijit Dhargalkar of Nationalist Congress Party, Dayanand Mandrekar of Bharatiya Janata Party, Janardhan Tamhankar of Bahujan Mukti Party, Paresh Raikar of Goa Suraksha Manch, Vinoda Paliencar of Goa Forward Party and Independent candidates Mukesh Sawant and Patrick Savio Almeida.
The candidates are promising better basic infrastructure, and employment to the locals.