It’s been almost five years that the people of Valpoi are waiting for some shadow of development. The locals, however, feel the progress has been hampered since the present MLA, Vishwajit Rane, hails from the opposition.

Meanwhile, Valpoi, which falls in the Sattari Taluka of the North Goa district, has some important issues which are yet to see the light of the day pertaining to less equipped hospitals, unemployment, garbage issue, water shortage and child centric development.

Valpoi constituency comprises six village panchayats -- Nagargao, Sanvordem, Thane, Khotoda, Guleli, Usgao and Valpoi municipality.

The major issue of the constituency is less equipped hospitals with no specialised consultants or doctors. The locals, however, say the government has forcibly stopped development as the sitting MLA comes from the opposition.

“The hospitals here are totally neglected by the current government. There are a lot of problems as the hospitals are less equipped with improper medical consultants. During the Congress regime these issues were solved but now the BJP government has taken the people for a ride,” said Vilas Shirodkar, a local resident.

“Meanwhile in recent times there have been power problems in the Community Health Centre causing inconvenience to the patients. The people will be hoping to get these issues resolved after elections,” he added.

Sayyad Sarfaraz, a local councillor, said that it is a pretty sorry state of affairs in Valpoi where some of the pregnant women have delivered on their way to GMC in absence of proper facilities. “Each and every major case is being transferred to GMC Bambolim. The worst part is there are no ambulances to cater to such urgent cases, which are the need of the hour for Valpoi,” he said.

Further locals complain of the garbage treatment plant at Sayyad Nagar, as the plant is still not provided with garbage segregation machine which the municipality is still demanding for the last three years.

“As of now the plant functions but all the segregation is done by people. The municipality has given a proposal to the government for setting up segregation machine but in the last three years nothing has been done,” said Ramdas Shirodkar, Chairperson, Valpoi Municipal Council.

“We had even asked the government for proposal for development of existing Kabrastan, cemetery and Hindu crematorium but nothing has yet been done. The total cost would have been approximately Rs one crore,” Shirodkar added. Locals say that the existing Hindu crematorium is in shambles as the age old roof has started to fall and needs urgent repair works and facelift.

These elections will witness an all round fight between Satyavijay Naik of the BJP, sitting MLA Vishwajit Rane of the Congress, Ashish Kanekar for AAP and Vijay Gaonkar of the MGP.

Vishesh Prabhu is likely to contest as an independent candidate.

“To be frank, in the last five years we, as Valpoikars, have faced a lot of problems. Our youth have migrated to other cities for employment since Valpoi has a bleak future as far as jobs are concerned,” said a youngster who did not want to reveal his identity.

Meanwhile, the locals have further complained of water shortage problems in remote areas where tankers are used to supply water. This has become an everyday affair.

“We have to depend on tankers for water in the nearby villages of Valpoi and sometimes the situation is worst. Every household has to keep some water stored in worst case scenario,” said Savitri Gawas.

“Recently there were leaks in the pipeline causing inconvenience to the people of Valpoi. The government should focus on maintaining the water pipelines which are currently unattended,” she added.