BHIVA P PARAB | NT
MANDREM : The Mandrem constituency has a perennial drinking water shortage faced by people in various areas and they have long desired that to be taken up as top priority by their representative in the assembly. However, the problem has remained unresolved.
“The water for our taps comes once in two days and that too when it comes it is there only for around one and a half hours to two hours in the morning, and normally the water which comes once in two days is from around 7.15 am and 9 am and during this time we have to fill up our utensils, wash clothes, etc which is a difficult task… And this problem of shortage of water faced by us has remained unresolved for several years,” said Lata Parab, a housewife from the Paliem village.
“The water, which comes from the Chandel water treatment plant, does not reach various areas of the Mandrem constituency. We have to depend on tanker water supplied almost throughout the year and the situation is getting bad day-after-day,” said Nandkishore Nhanji, a medical representative.
He lamented, “Instead of beautification works, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, who is the BJP candidate in the constituency and has represented it three times, should have taken up providing adequate water to homes as top priority.”
The youth of Mandrem are looking for employment opportunities, however, unemployment issue has remained unsolved in the Mandrem constituency and several people, especially the youth, are looking ahead for a candidate who will address the unemployment problem.
“Jobs have been promised over the years, however, nothing has been done to create job opportunities for the youth of the Mandrem constituency and there is a need to generate employment opportunities. For this election, unemployment in the constituency has been a major issue,” said Sainath P, who works with a private firm.
The constituency has 31362 voters – 15679 (male) and 15683 female electors.
It lacks a good hospital and in various villages coming under the assembly segment better healthcare facilities are required. However, hardly any upgradation of healthcare facilities and deputation of health staff, especially doctors, are being done.
An elderly woman Laxmi said, “Whoever wins the elections should make it a point that good healthcare facilities are made available for the people here and there is a need for a full-time doctor in every village so that elderly women like me does not face problems.”
The people also lament that no progress has been made over the construction of a bridge over the river Tiracol which has been a long-pending demand of Tiracol villagers.
The proposed bridge aims at connecting Tiracol to the rest of Goa.
Parsekar is campaigning for re-election on the grounds of having carried out works like widening and tarring of the main road connecting various coastal villages, apart from giving a fresh coat of hotmix to internal roads.
He is also depending on voter support for his beautification work at Agarwaddo-Chopdem junction, construction of protection wall at Keri beach and a playground in Morjim.
On campaigning trail, Parsekar is also stressing on various welfare schemes for women and other sections of the society implemented by the government. His supporters feel that his reasonably good performance as chief minister may pay him dividends.
There are several candidates in fray in the Mandrem constituency. The main contest is likely to be between Parsekar and the Congress candidate Dayanand Sopte. Both candidates are campaigning vigorously and visiting houses with their supporters and conducting corner meetings.
Sopte is banking on anti-incumbency and rising feeling of promises remaining unfulfilled by the sitting MLA. Sopte is a former BJP MLA from the Pernem constituency who switched to the Congress. He enjoys the advantage of support extended by former Congress MLA Sangeeta Parab, who had backed Parsekar in the 2012 assembly elections.
There are five other candidates in the fray – Rajendra Satelkar (NCP), Shridhar Manjrekar (MGP), Bhim Pednekar (Bahujan Mukti Party), Devendra Prabhudessai (AAP) and Sanjay Prabhudessai (Independent).
However, the real fight is going to be between Parsekar and Sopte.
The AAP candidate is a supporter of Mopa airport, while Manjrekar is a MGP veteran and former zilla parishad member.
Parsekar faces erosion of votes owing to the agitation by supporters of regional languages as medium of instruction. The constituency has a strong presence of RSS and the first meeting of the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch, which was held at Mandrem and that focused on MOI issue, saw a large turnout.
The MOI issue could dent the BJP in the constituency and to add to the woes of the ruling party, the MGP candidate could eat into the BJP vote share.
During the 2012 elections the BJP had alliance with the MGP which went to the advantage of Parsekar.
Kala Bhavan remains a distant dream
Mandrem: There has been a long-pending demand for a Kala Bhavan in the Mandrem constituency.
Local artistes feel that if a Kala Bhavan is built then local artistes will get a platform to showcase their talent. They say Mandrem has been birthplace of several artistes and there are so many talented people who will get a boost if a proper facility is provided to them.
They rued that no interest has been shown by the government over the years to set up such a facility. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, being MLA of the constituency for several years, should have taken an initiative to build a Kala Bhavan, locals feel. NT