Sudesh Bhosle | NT
VASCO
With the Bogmalo beach generating a lot of funds to the panchayat, issues faced by visitors to the beach it seems are more important in Chicolna-Bogmalo village panchayat polls.
The panchayat post-delimitation has two more wards than the earlier five wards. There are a total of 22 candidates in fray in the seven wards. Majority of voters in the panchayat are Christians.
Ward 1 has been reserved for schedule tribe candidates while ward number 3 and 4 have been reserved for women with other four wards being general.
The incumbent panch members are banking on the works done during their five-year tenure. However, there are new faces and ex-panch members who will give a tough fight to the incumbent panch members.
More eyes are on ward 6 where incumbent sarpanch Laxman Kavlekar and Dabolim Mahila Group president Anita Thorat are among four candidates in the fray. Kavlekar and Thorat are the staunch supporters of Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho, who is also the local MLA.
Main issue is lack of parking space for visitors to the Bogmalo beach The other issue is the lack of toilet and changing room facility at the beach. Though there is a toilet and changing room facility, it is awaiting commissioning.
Some villagers are complaining about illegal activities mushrooming in the vicinity of a five-star hotel premises. A local said, “We have noticed that since the last several years, a hotel management has acquired hillock/mountain in its backyard but the village panchayat authorities have failed to initiate any action.”
The issue pertaining to the CRZ issue faced by hotel cum restaurant owners at Bogmalo beach is serious one and the matter is sub-judice. There was also a demand for a football ground from the youth but it has not been met. Land has been acquired for the purpose and process is underway.
Outgoing sarpanch Kavlekar claimed that during his last five year tenure, developmental works worth Rs 5 crore have been done. He also claimed that the major issue faced by the visitors to Bogmalo beach of a toilet and changing room facility will be settled after lifting of poll code for the panchayat polls.
Kavlekar claimed that the panchayat with the help of local MLA has commissioned cemetery road at a cost of Rs 80 lakh and has also utilised golden jubilee fund of Rs 10 lakh for various developmental works. He also informed that cleaning and construction of nullahs has been taken up.
Kavlekar further said, “The panchayat has commissioned crematorium by acquiring 700 square metres of land at Podshiro in ward 5 which is benefiting people in jurisdiction of neighboring Chicalim and Velsao-Pale-Issorcim besides Chicolna-Bogmalo panchayats.”
The panchayat has taken other developmental works like construction of stage at panchayat, installing of pavers, grills as part of panchayat beautification and has constructed several roads, benefiting the villagers, told Kavlekar. The panchayat has installed in all 11 high masts in various parts of the village under MPLAD scheme, he added.