11 March,2011

Municipalities & many-festos
The many manifestos for the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) elections inspire little confidence. Last week, the Manohar Parrikar-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) panel, which calls itself ‘Panjim First’, released its manifesto, promising transparency, development and a ban on the floating casinos in the Mandovi River. This week, the Atanasio ‘Babush’  Monserrate-led Congress panel, named ‘Panjim Corporation Development Front’ has promulgated its manifesto. It has promised voters that it will bring in scientific waste management with secure garbage bins, and implement ‘in the pipeline’ Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme projects.
But the main promise of the Babush-led panel lies in his own words: “Taleigao, which lies in the vicinity of Panjim, has in the last eight years been transformed from a sleepy village into undeniably the best village in the state of Goa. Under my visionary leadership, Taleigao has evolved into a virtual ‘welfare state’ with hallmarks like excellent infrastructure and roads of European standard, virtual crime-free environment, promenades in Taleigao and from Miramar to Dona Paula being objects of envy, and well-maintained and impeccably landscaped gardens of international standards.” Implicit is an assurance of developing the capital city on the same lines.
The manifesto further speaks about preparation of a comprehensive Panjim City Development Plan by incorporating modern planning methods, yet retaining greenery and conserving heritage architecture. It promises to improve the infrastructure at Patto Plaza, as well as traffic management and parking in the city, including multi-storied parking lots.
Completion of the Mala Lake project, paved roads with cobblestones at Fontainhas, Campal and Miramar with proper drainage systems, beautification of the parking bay at the Santa Monica Jetty, establishment of post offices at Miramar and St Inez, retaining walls on Altinho slopes, and ducting systems to avoid road digging are also in the manifesto.
A third phase for the city market complex, better garbage collection facilities, a community centre at Ribandar on the lines of the one at Taleigao, a promenade with seating from Divja Circle to Ribandar, public urinals and toilets, renovation of crematoriums, kabrastans and cemeteries, and a disaster management task force rounds off the Monserrate manifesto, which also promises health insurance to municipal workers, demarcation of an area in market for Goan vendors, as well as de-silting of the St Inez nullah.
None of these are new ideas. And the list is so long that it reminds us of all the myriad things that the CCP’s previous ruling panel, which was also controlled by Mr Monserrate, failed to do.
Why couldn’t Mr Monserrate & Co, who had an absolute majority in the CCP, do something positive for the city, rather than merely indulging in scams, manipulating market shop and stall allotments and allowing the JNNURM funds to lapse? With what confidence should ‘Ponnjekars’ believe that even one word of this Monserrate manifesto is going to be implemented?
That said, the record of Panjim MLA Manohar Parrikar, who leads the other panel, is not that much more inspiring. In fact, the Panjim MLA has barely made his presence felt in the city over the last couple of years. May be that is his way – to ‘show’ Ponnjekars what happens when they do not elect his panel for the CCP – to let them “get the municipal administration that they deserve”, because they voted for it. But frankly, the people of Panjim are not impressed.
We would urge voters to disregard panels and vote for good, honest corporators. The People’s Initiative for Change (PINC) has recommended a list of candidates it believes are the best. If their candidate doesn’t impress you, by all means make your own choice. But do not commit the folly of voting for this panel or that.