This December marks a year since the steps leading to the archaic Monte Chapel adjoining Hospicio was beautified under MPLAD scheme by former Lok Sabha MP Francisco Sardinha at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. The inclining landscape, connecting the Monte Hill road to the main Hospicio road was beautified not just for devotees to make it to the Chapel atop the hillock, but for citizens and families to spend some leisure time there.
A year down the line, things do not at all look charming. A couple of months ago, vandals had damaged the ornamental lamps following a brawl between two groups. There are a number of instances where anti-socials descend on the place with liquor bottles to make “merry” in the wee hours.
A local resident Ivo Faleiro, narrates, “The entire space covering the steps from Monte Hill to the Hospicio was spruced up last year, taking into consideration the recreational needs of families and citizens. But, what one sees almost every night is that miscreants misuse the steps by using them as an open bar and consume liquor and create nuisance. Fights break out between groups late night. The ornamental lamps have been damaged by miscreants to ensure that they indulge in anti-social activity under the cover of darkness.”
A visit to the beautified place late evening would reveal the complete absence of illumination, since the Electricity Department has failed to carry out repairs on the electrical fuse. Unlike the Ana Fonte Garden, there’s no security around to man the area despite the Margao Municipal Council adopting a resolution to post a security guard to keep anti-socials at bay.
Margao Municipal Councillor Tito Cardozo, says, “At one of the meetings, the Margao civic body had agreed to post a security guard at the beautified place when I had drawn the Council’s attention to the anti-social activities there. Sadly, no security guard is seen at the place. I will pursue the matter with the municipality.”
The beautified place – which had played host to a children’s contest a couple of months ago – is in a state of neglect and apathy for want of maintenance and security.
