VISHANT VAZE | NT
SANKHALI
The ban on mining and its fallout is one of the main issues in Sankhali. The irregular power and water supply is also likely to have a bearing on the ensuing assembly polls in the town. There are also other issues like lack of medical facilities, lack of full-fledged police station and traffic congestion.
Sankhali which was earlier known as Pali constituency comprises of the municipal area, Sankhali, village panchayats including Amona, Surla, Harvalem, Navelim, Kudne, Velgeum and Pali-Kothambi.
Mining was the mainstay of the livelihood of a sizeable population until it was banned rendering many jobless and resulting in a total collapse of the Sankhali economy. Though, to some extent the mining operations have restarted, the problem of unemployment still persists in the town.
Former SMC chairperson Vijaykumar Verekar said that the BJP needs to develop villages and focus on youth empowerment. Digambar Naik from Amona-Navelim said, “The BJP has totally failed to deliver its promises and could not satisfy the common people. The mining ban is a problem created by the BJP.”
Sidhi Prabhu a resident from Sankhali said that the BJP is working for the all-round development of the town.
Riyaz Khan said that employment opportunity, power, water supply and other social and economic development is lacking in the constituency.
Another resident Pandhari Gawas said, many business units were closed in the last few years which resulted in large scale unemployment problem. However it was the responsibility of the government to provide jobs to the youth, he said.
BJP MLA Dr Pramod Sawant who is contesting on a BJP ticket for a second time is facing a close and tough contest with Congress candidate Dharmesh Saglani, and MGP-GSM-Shiv Sena alliance candidate Dr Suresh Amonkar. Other candidates in the fray are Pratap Gawas of NCP and Milind Gawas of AAP.
Dr Sawant, who was also the GSIDC chairman has completed many projects such as a college building at Sankhali, around 4 new school buildings in the constituency, municipal building, planned master plan for Sankhali area, and was also instrumental in completing the incomplete projects of Ravindra Bhavan and a hospital building at Sankhali.
Dr Sawant said, “We have worked very hard for the all-round development of the constituency and we want to make the town a role model in the state. We have already designed a master plan which will make Sankhali a modern town.”