Sudesh Bhosle | NT
VASCO: The issues of garbage disposal and open defecation haunt the Sancoale village panchayat. The panchayat has failed to come out with a proper solution for disposal of garbage in the last five years of their tenure.
The panchayat was considered to be one of the richest panchayat bodies in the state due to its revenue. Interestingly, the panchayat has failed to resolve several problems of the villagers, mainly the slum dwellers who reside at Birla, Zuarinagar and Zorint.
The panchayat gets a lot of revenue from major companies such as Zuari Agro Chemicals and other companies based at Sancoale industrial estate.
Interestingly, Sancoale panchayat has over Rs 7 crore revenue in its treasury which could be spent on various developmental works, but it is understood that most of the developmental works have been either completed with the funds available from companies through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative or through government.
During the last five years of tenure, the panchayat has seen four sarpanchas in the eleven-member panchayat body. The village panchayat is still operating in the dilapidated building for the last several decades. Although the villagers are demanding for a new panchayat ghar, it has not been fulfilled till date. The foundation stone for the panchayat ghar has been laid a couple of times, but it has not become a reality.
Sancoale village panchayat had allocated its prime land to the state government for the purpose of constructing the Kala Bhavan at Upasnagar.
The project has been constructed half way by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), but it has now become a white elephant. The panchayat has now demanded to take possession of land from the state government, but it has been a distant dream.
The beautification work of the Bandolem lake, which could attract tourists, has remained unresolved for the past five years. Although the water resources department has constructed the retaining walls at Bandolem lake, the panchayat body has failed to take up beautification work and even illumination which could be useful during immersion of Ganesh idols.
One of the major problems faced by the panchayat is open defecation by slum dwellers along the four-lane highway.
“The open defecation has become an eyesore for motorists and tourists”, said Hanumanta Madar of Zuarinagar. He disclosed that the local panchayat body has also failed to provide proper amenities in terms of toilet facilities in order to curb open defecation.
“The panchayat body should have sought the help of the state government under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to construct toilets in the slum-dwelling areas, but the panchayat has failed to do so, forcing the people to defecate in the open along the four-lane highway,” added Madar.
He disclosed that the slum dwellers lack basic facility of a housing scheme which was announced by the state government. “Apart from housing facility, the people residing in Birla, Zuarinagar, Zorint, Sancoale, Upasnagar also lack a full-fledged market complex, health care facility and other necessary infrastructural facilities,” said Lamani.
Sancoale village panchayat sarpanch Ramakant Borkar disclosed that he had completed developmental works of around Rs 4.5 crore. “Most of the developmental works have been completed during my tenure as sarpanch,” said Borkar.
“The developmental works taken up during my tenure include construction of drains and gutters, laying of pavers and concrete slabs, construction of retaining walls and internal roads besides others,” he said.
Speaking over the open defecation, Borkar disclosed that the panchayat has sent a proposal to the PWD authorities for construction of toilets wherein some toilets have been constructed.
“Despite proper awareness, the people in slum-dwelling areas defecate in the open along the four-lane highway,” said Borkar and further pointed out that the state government should come out with a proper housing plan wherein slum dwellings should be connected to proper sanitation facilities.
He disclosed that due to restrictions laid down by the Indian Navy over the flying zone area, the Sancoale village panchayat could not set up its own garbage treatment plant.