SANGUEM: The villages of Mollem, Sacorda and Collem Shigao in Darbandora taluka are facing an acute drinking water problem and it is the primary issue that needs to be tackled by the newly elected Sarpanchas of these villages. 

Sarpanch of Mollem Village Panchayat Tanavi Kerkar who is elated to be the sarpanch for the first time has immediate plans to solve the drinking water problems faced by the villagers residing at Camsailim ward of the panchayat. The ward also lacks proper road facility with the villagers till date exclusively using a traditional pathway to proceed to their residences.

Maintainance work of existing gutters and construction of new drains wherever necessary will be underyaken on pririty basis, informed Kerkar.

The panchayat is also contemplating the commissioning of a special bus for the benefit of the mentally retarded students in the village. A school for the mentally retarded students was opened in the village last year but the students are facing tansportation problems from their residences claimed Kerkar.

In addition stress will also be laid on reducing the unemployment in the village. A large number of youth from the village are enemployed and steps will be taken to generate some employment avenues to the youth in the village,added Kerkar.

Gangaram Lambor, Sarpanch of Collem Shigao panchayat has a tremendous job ahead of him for the next five years.  He said " With cooperation and support from the Sanvordem MLA, we shall achieve the desired development progress" .

The primary issue that looms large on the newly elected faces is the reconstruction of the building which houses the Rural Medical Dispensary and the staff quarters at the RMD. On account of the dilapidated building no doctor wants to stay in the village resulting in the local people suffering  claimed Lambor.

The other issues that needs to taken up on priority basis is a solution to the drinking water problems faced by the villagers. The construction of the filteration plant will ease the drinking water problems.

The work of the development of the panchayat ground will also be undertaken in a couple of years, informed Lambor.

Gautam Sawant, Sarpanch of Sacorda village panchayat has several issues in mind including the development of a few spots in the village on tourism lines.

A rope way could be laid in the village for the benefit of tourists visiting the famous Tambdi Surla temple in the village.

Sawant would also like to commission a boating centre at Mardanda Bhandar which he claims will attract tourist in the village.

The primary issue as far as the villagers are concerned is the absence of drinking water. Several wards in the panchayat which includes Tolnem, Dargem, Kumbharwada, Tambdi surla and Mestawada are also affected by this problem.