Mormugao Taluka has elected all four BJP MLAs to the Goa Assembly. However, none among the four have found a place in the Manohar Parrikar led cabinet. Without any minister from the taluka, uncertainty looms large whether the pending projects will be completed in the next five years.

In the last five years, BJP government kick-started several important projects across Mormugao taluka, however, majority of these could not be completed due to financial crunch faced by the former BJP government. Now with the BJP having formed a coalition government, people of Mormugao taluka have been waiting to see whether this government without any minister will be in position to complete pending projects estimated to be above Rs 500 crores in all four constituencies of Mormugao Taluka -- Mormugao, Vasco, Dabolim and Cortalim.

Of all four constituencies, Cortalim would be worst affected if the present BJP-led coalition government fails to give priority to the projects undertaken by the former BJP government in its last term. Certain important projects, including the market complex at Thana Cortalim, are yet to see the light of the day. It is now learnt that the GSIDC has terminated the contractor for his slow work but the contractor alleges that the pending payment was the issue behind slow work. 

“I don’t know what would be the faith of our market project. They could not complete the project in last three years and now under the coalition government we are pretty unsure whether the project, that is very important to us, would now be completed in next five years or would end up being abandoned,” said one Cortalim resident.

Similarly the pending work of construction of new Cansaulim Primary Health Centre (PHC) building as part of up-gradation of Cansaulim PHC was supposed to be completed last year. The foundation is still to be laid. The situation is the same in Sancoale. The Kala Bhawan is incomplete and the structure has become a safe den for anti-social elements. Even the beautification of Bandolem Lake at Sancoale is pending.

A similar situation exists in Dabolim constituency as the important upgradation of Cottage Hospital at Chicalim to sub district hospital which was in final stage till last year end is yet to be completed.

Another important project is the Grade Separator at Dabolim to decongest traffic. However, due to some pending payments the work is now dragging its feet. The faith of development and beautification of Vaddem Lake also hangs in balance. Though the present MLA Mauvin Godinho has all capabilities to get his projects completed, like he did in his past as Congress MLA from Dabolim, now the situation, however, is different because BJP is leading a coalition government with maximum cabinet berths allotted to non-BJP MLAs who have supported the BJP government.

Vasco city is a commercial hub of Mormugao taluka and caters to the needs of people residing at Dabolim, Mormugao as well as Vasco. Many important projects, including market project that were proposed by MLA Carlos Almeida have to be completed in current term and on war footing. Swimming pool project, de-silting and development of Maimollem and Sasmollem Lake, Taluka administrative buildings cum ultra modern transport hub project, etc, are few key projects that need to be completed in current term. Similarly people have been waiting to see the day when Vasco would get proper markets. These are the challenges the BJP govt is facing at the moment.

In Mormugao constituency, most of the projects undertaken by the MLA Milind Naik as Minister in former BJP government are nearing completion. However, certain projects including phase-II of Baina beautification, completion of new sewage treatment plant at Katem Baina, crematorium/burial grounds for all religions at Sada and most importantly the up-gradation of garbage treatment plant are few important projects that the new government has to give priority.

All over Mormugao taluka, the new government has to spend over Rs 500 crores to complete the pending projects, but the uncertainty of projects’ completion looms large over the people of Mormugao taluka.