PONDA: Shapur ward of Bandora panchayat is just a kilometre away from Ponda, but still most of the 250 families living in the area do not even have electricity connection and water taps and proper toilet facilities.
And interestingly, the panch member of the ward too lives without electricity, toilet facility and water tap connection and has decided not to contest the forthcoming election.
The panch Bilkish Pancham said that for the last five years every effort was made to get electricity, water supply and toilet facilities for the low-income families living in Shapur; however, except for only one community toilet project, that was inaugurated recently, nothing else could happen in the ward.
“I have lost hope and I failed to fulfil the expectations of the people. So I have decided to stay away from election this time,” Pancham said.
In Shapur, the ownership issue is what most of the families are facing. And to add to it, a part of Shapur comes under the 300-metre radius of archeological monument, that is, Safa Masjid. So, even after living in the area for more than 30 to 40 years, residents do not have access to basic facilities, said Pancham.
For the last several years a lot of things were promised to the households of Shapur, but nothing has happened. Water, electricity and toilet facilities are the main demands of the people; many proposals were sent, letters were made and even site inspections for provisions of electricity were conducted, but the ownership and archeological site issues proved to be a hurdle.
“We do not know what is the issue, whether it is lack of political will or something else. We have been deprived of basic facilities,” said a local from Shapur.
Of the 250 families, 40-odd have electricity connections, rest make use of oil lamps. There are around 10 to 12 taps for these many families while rest buy water from these taps by paying Rs 200 to 300 per month to the tap ‘owners.’
Same arrangement works in case of electricity too, but ‘charges’ are high and all cannot afford, said a Shapur villager.
