SUDESH BHOSLE | NT
VASCO
Vasco constituency, comprising nine wards of Mormugao Municipal Council, including the town, needs a fish market and vegetable market besides proper planning to resolve issues of traffic congestion, parking, so also planning for administrative building, commercial project, effective garbage management, housing for slum dwellers at Mangor-Hill and Gandhinagar. Coal pollution is also one of the issues which has affected the people of the port town.
The constituents said that issues like parking, traffic congestion need immediate attention as people are facing a lot of hardships while travelling on the roads in the town.
“Vasco town witnesses congestion on routine basis due to improper planning. It needs to be tackled by representatives, including the councillors, legislator, police, traffic cell, RTO, deputy collector and others concerned. They should sit together and discuss and come out with a solution,” said Ajit Chodankar, a resident of Baina.
He said Vasco town has not undergone any significant change in the last several years.
“Proper planning for development of Vasco town is the need of the hour which can be achieved by leaders with a vision,” he added. He said there are several issues in the constituency which need to be resolved including the construction a full-fledged fish and vegetable market, besides commercial project which could generate revenue for municipal coffers.
There are eight candidates in the fray for the ensuing assembly election in Vasco constituency. The incumbent Vasco MLA and chairman of Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) Carlos Almeida is contesting the election for the second consecutive term on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.
The other candidates include Jose Philip D’Souza (Nationalist Congress Party), Saifullah Khan (Congress), Manesh Arolkar (Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party), Krishna Salkar (Independent), Loretta D’Souza (Aam Aadmi Party), Gandhi Henriques (Independent) and Chandrashekhar Vast (Niz Goenkar Revolution Front). It will be a multi-cornered contest in Vasco constituency. However, a close contest is expected between Carlos Almeida, Saifullah Khan, Jose Philip D’Souza, Krishna Salkar and Manesh Arolkar.
BJP candidate Almeida, who has been a three-time councillor of MMC, has proposed the fish market project in Vasco. He said he had proposed several projects in Vasco to the tune of over Rs 500 crore, some of which are completed, some are underconstruction while others are in the pipeline.
Speaking about the projects, which he initiated during the last five years, Almeida informed that construction work of ultramodern transport hub cum administrative building, costing Rs 96 crore; proposed fishing harbour at Vasco bay, cost estimated at Rs 104 crore; sub district hospital, estimated to cost Rs 47 crore; sewerage connectivity in entire Vasco constituency, costing Rs 50 crore; upgradation of Tilak Maidan Complex for Lusofonia Games, costing Rs 6 crore; construction of swimming pool at Maimollem, estimated to cost Rs 25 crore; augmentation of water and power supply; beautification and desiltation of Maimollem lake, water augmentation work including urgent interconnection of conveying pipeline and distribution network in Vasco town, desilting and improvement of water bodies near Our Lady of Candelaria Church at Baina, development of Ganesh immersion point at Dactolem, development of nullah originating from Bhuteabhat to Mestawada, desilting of nullah at Down Mangor, construction of retaining wall from Maimollem to Shantinagar and also opposite Hotel Taniya, providing inter-locking pavers to schools and even spaces of religious structures, upgraded and renovated road under railway overbridge, construction of two-way culvert opposite GSL, widening of the road from GSL to St Andrew’s Church Square and proposed re-organisation of Church Square junction besides others. Almeida has also made effort to renovate and upgrade the heritage MMC building wherein the contractor has been finalised for the project.
Almeida further informed that he has been successful in achieving the door-to-door collection of garbage in all wards of Vasco town with the help of MMC. “Vasco town has been awarded Cleanest City Award under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan at the hands of Governor Mridula Sinha,” he said.
Apart from this, Almeida has achieved success in profiting the KTCL to the tune of Rs 5.19 crore.
Almeida has also played a role in reviving the fields at Mestawada. “Efforts will be made to ensure that all fields from railway guest house right up to Junta Quarters are turned cultivable,” he said. He claimed that earlier the fields at Mestawada had been turned into a commercial zone.
He maintained that the commissioning of the four-lane highway will give relief to the people as the town witnesses a number of accidents and even fatalities. He said soil testing work of the commercial project at old chief officer’s bungalow is also in progress.
The other candidate NCP’s Jose Philip D’Souza has his vote bank and is also depending on his supporters who had earlier ensured his victory in two assembly elections. “I know the mood of the people and I am confident of winning the election with a thumping majority,” said D’Souza. He is focusing on getting various developmental works completed by consulting the people. He disclosed that coal pollution is a major issue in Vasco and it has not been resolved till date. “I will fight to free Vasco from coal dust pollution,” said D’Souza.
Congress candidate Saifullah Khan, who is a third-time councillor, is assuring the people of fulfilling the promises which have not been fulfilled. Khan is concentrating on Muslim community vote and also on other communities. He has close contact with people and the youth.
Independent candidate Krishna Salkar, who resigned from BJP in order to contest the assembly election, has a strong support from youth. “Youth are my backbone and I am confident that I will win the election with a thumping majority,” he said, adding, “Development work will be my main priority.”
MGP candidate Manesh Arolkar said that his focus is also on development. AAP candidate Loretta D’Souza is hopeful of winning the assembly election. The other candidates – Gandhi Henriques (Independent) and Chandrashekhar Vast (Niz Goenkar Revolution Front) – are also making efforts to win the election.