VALPOI: Instability within the ruling body is said to be the main reason for the lack of basic infrastructure in Keri panchayat area. In the last 5 years, the panchayat has seen four sarpanchas and, hence, the village has witnessed little development.
The instability factor has pushed the path of development away from the panchayat area.
In the last 5 years, the panchayat saw Jivbarao Rane, Chandrakant Gawas, Ganu Gawas and Mahesh Gawas serving as sarpanch.
Though all four are making tall claims of delivering good governance during their respective tenures, the villagers feel disappointed over the functioning of the panchayat.
The demands of the villagers include supply of clean and filtered water, smooth power supply, crematorium and traffic congestion-free road.
Despite the village being blessed with perennial sources of water, the villagers consume unfiltered water which is pumped and supplied to the entire village.
On many occasions, interior areas of Keri have faced irregular water supply compelling the womenfolk to fetch water from the river for domestic purpose.
Some village elders said that the issue of providing filtered water to the people was taken up by Poriem MLA Pratapsingh Rane and a proposal was sent to PWD, however, nothing has happened till date.
“Clean and filtered drinking water is our long pending demand. We have taken up this issue many a times but our pleas have gone unheard,” said a woman from Beherilwada.
An elderly man Babli Gawas from Goteli expressed similar views.
“Concerned authority is not bothered to provide us filtered water. Though water is treated with bleaching powder, it is not as clean as what people in other areas of the state get. The water is smelly and muddy too,” said Gawas, adding the panchayat has failed in providing basic facilities.
Another long-pending demand of the locals is crematorium, which has not been fulfilled as yet. When asked a few people who were gathered near a shop in the market, they all expressed same problems.
“People are not happy over lethargic attitude of the panchayat. We also face frequent power cuts and regular traffic congestion. Whenever the issues are raised, only empty promises are given,” said a youth pointing towards the trucks parked along the road due to absence of parking bays.
The locals disclosed that vehicles from Maharashtra, Karnataka and other states coming to Goa, pass through Keri; hence, there is a need for a bus stand with toilet and parking facilities.
There is a lot of scope for tourism in Keri as it is situated between rivers and surrounded by hills and is blessed with natural heritage and biological wealth.
Though the village attracts a large number of local tourists during the monsoon as the Chorla Ghat has almost a hundred small and big cascades and the stretch also offers a panoramic view of the Anjunem dam, but nothing concrete has been done to develop the area and promote hinterland tourism.
Some locals told this daily that there is an urgent need to establish a garbage collection centre.
“The garbage menace has resulted in choking of gutters and is polluting the streams in the village,” said Devendra Gawas, who claims that tourists dump plastic and other waste in open areas.
When contacted over the phone for his comments on the issues affecting the locals, sarpanch Mahesh Gawas said that “I fully admit that issues such as lack of clean and filtered water and crematorium are yet to be resolved.”
Regarding crematorium, Gawas said that whenever the site was proposed the locals raised objection.
He said they have written to officials of PWD water supply and electricity department and a meeting has been called next week to resolve the water and power woes of the villagers.
Meanwhile, stressing the need for a mini bus stand, he said if a nearby area is acquired by the government it can be developed into a mini bus stand.
While on development work, Gawas said that the panchayat has constructed a community hall at Ravan and recreational centre for senior citizens at Baherilwada through golden jubilee fund.
He opined that the government should provide required support for carrying out development in Keri.