Roque Dias | NT
NUVEM
The semi-urban Nuvem constituency has seen a lot of development over the years but people in hilly and remote areas are deprived even of basic facility like drinking water. Power interruptions are also common and the world-famous Benaulim beach faces neglect.
Nuvem comprises of the villages of Loutolim, Verna, Nagoa, Majorda, Utorda and Betalbatim. Betalbatim lacks a fish market premises.
People including agriculturist Jose Andrade are complaining that the bypass road constructed using industrial slag during the Lusofonia Games has created severe impact on the biodiversity besides damaging the agricultural land.
S Fernandes from Devote-Loutolim said, “We had complained to the PWD and also brought the issue of water shortage before the panchayat. PWD says that the pipeline needs to be replaced as it is very old. Francisco Xavier Pacheco also failed to resolve it.’’
Though Nuvem has produced many football players, it lacks a good football ground. Elected representatives – past and the present – promised to have a football ground but could not deliver.
There are five candidates in the fray and a triangular contest is expected. Sitting MLA Francisco Xavier Pacheco, who has maintained a record of contesting on new party ticket every time is this time contesting on Goa Su-Raj Party ticket.
Wilfred D’Sa alias Babashan is contesting on Congress ticket while the NCP has fielded D’Sa’s relative Vincent Rodrigues and AAP has fielded Mariano Godinho, who is a doctor by profession. Dinesh Bandodkar, former BJP block president of Loutolim who resigned from the post after the party denied him ticket, has thrown his hat in the ring as an independent.
The Congress denial of ticket to former power minister Aleixo Sequeira will certainly have some impact on the polls though he is a ‘loyal Congressman.’
The entry of AAP and NCP in the constituency can very well upset the first two candidates— D’Sa and Pacheco. All candidates are leaving no stone unturned to get the lion’s share with Catholic community having maximum votes. The constituency also has sizeable votes of weaker section of the society who can play a decisive role.
NCP candidate Vincent Rodrigues, who has a good political experience under his belt since he has served UGDP cannot also be ruled out. Rodrigues and AAP’s Godinho are eyeing non-Congress and non-BJP votes.