TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Ward 14 and 17 (Malbhat and some parts of Pajifond and Margao central town areas are in fact the backbone of the Municipality and contributes to the revenues of the class A municipality. Rupesh Mahatme, the President of Margao BJP mandal is the councillor of ward 17. Damu Naik, a first time councilor, was elected in ward 14 in 2015 under the banner of Model Margao patronised by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat.
While Rupesh will get to contest again according to the now old reservation Damu also will get a chance as the ward 14 remains to be unreserved.
GANDHI MARKET
NEW MARKET ISSUES
The New Market Association has been requesting the local body to address the issue of parking in and around the new market. The buildings in the area have reserved parking for the occupants of shops/flats of their respective buildings. As such the people who come to these buildings for the purpose of their work use the parking facilities meant for the traders of the new market and as such completely congest the existing space available for parking. The New Market Vendors had demanded that the municipality issues an order preventing reservation of parking in and around the new market area. However, the MMC has not been proactive to solve the issue faced by these markets, as a result of which the people have started pushing towards neo markets of Fatorda, Aquem and Borda.
COMPLAINT BY MADGAONKAR
Manisha Kerkar a housewife said "I have stopped going to the Margao markets for over two years now. These markets have no parking, nor a footpath to walk. Don’t wish to waste my time there," said Manisha.
The residents are complaining of the acute problem of garbage and traffic in the areas. At least 200 families stay here in the Gandhi Market area.
TRAFFIC & PARKING PROBLEMS
The parking project of Margao looks to have gone into a coma now. The MMC officials and Councillors themselves face the problem of traffic and parking in the town. To add up to the mess several buildings in the Margao town have converted their mandatory ground floor parking areas into commercial shops.
The former chairperson of MMC Arthur D'silva who had laid the corner stone for the Multi-storey parking project said that he is tired of following up the work as the process seems to be unending.
The Chief Officer of MMC said the work was tendered but only one bidder quoted for the job and hence it has been slated back for re-tender now.
The Building Rules for the towns have laid down strictures on the buildings and have made it mandatory for all the commercial buildings to have their ground floor as a parking lot. However, all have highly disrespected these rules.
COMPLAINT BY A COMMUTER
Mahesh Damodar Nayak said "The traffic problem of Margao has reached to such an extent that a pedestrian reaches his destination earlier than the vehicles. The law enforcement doesn't have any idea how to handle the traffic in the town and the problem at Market and centre of the town have just begun," said Mahesh.
HEAVY VEHICLES’ ENTRY
The entry and parking of heavy carriage vehicles mostly six-wheeler trucks on streets of Margao town has been a nightmare for the residents and the vehicular traffic in and around Malbhat, Pajifond and Hari Mandir area and also the Market areas. This area has a huge concentration of commercial complexes and shops. The people who come to this place find it very difficult at peak hours even to walk to their building as the interior and main roads are occupied by huge trucks. Even after the order of the Collector mandating shifting of the Warehouses from Margao to exterior areas of Margao, no one has paid any heed to the order.
OFFICE GOER’S
COMPLAINT
Sandesh Velip said that commuting through the parked trucks and queues in Malbhat is a regular trouble he faces and says that he has lost all hope.
ILLEGAL HAWKING
The problem of illegal carts in the town of Margao is not a new issue to the commercial capital. According to reliable statistics today Margao town many gaddas, carts and Kiosks are illegal in operation and without (kiosks) paying any tax to the Civic body. The town wards of 14 & 17 are in the grip of illegal hawkers. In the afternoon as the MMC staff goes off road the hawkers occupy parking areas on roadsides some people park on the road to buy the goods. This creates more mess.
Margao central traffic island opposite the MMC and Comunidade is a host to a large temporary market every night. No one knows whether the MMC has any control over the market or its happening without any benefit to the Class A municipality. The businessmen here are mostly migrants.
COMPLAINT BY MARKET GOER
Sachin Bandodkar says, "I drive a commercial vehicle delivering goods to the various stores and I know how much trouble the roadside hawking causes. They are causing trouble and not paying a penny to the Municipality," he said.
MIGRANTS’ MENACE
The wards 14 and 17 i.e. Malbhat and Margao town have been in the grip of migrants menace and beggars. If you are going for some work at any of the commercial complexes, be prepared to shell out Rs 10 minimum for the beggars.
As far as migrants are concerned the entire Station Road is full of them. Several tourists who come to Margao are welcomed by this view of the town. These migrants are alcoholics and are addicted to various other psychotropic substances. During Covid pandemic most of them were chased away but they are back with a bang now.
COMPLAINTS BY PEDESTRIANS AND COMMUTERS
Anand Naik a regular pedestrian on the Station Road said that he is amazed how the migrants rag pickets continue to survive and find food even during the pandemic. He said that these migrants need to be removed from the Station Road area before the problem goes out of hand.
Amita Patil asked, "Isn't public begging banned in Goa? So, who is to be held responsible if the children after school hours end up on the road begging for money? Is it beggars or the parents or the people who give them the money to be blamed for this?" she asked.
