When I look at my city of Margao, I watch it with much sadness and helplessness as a place where decadence has already set in with little hope of a change for the better. However, I blame myself and my fellow Madganvkars for it, more than an inefficient and perhaps a fatigued Council and wilfully inactive, arrogant and overbearing Chief Officers, deliberately placed by Governments often hostile to the ruling Council to frustrate attempts at providing a good and helpful administration to the city, with the sole aim of giving the Council a bad name. Such situations can only be countered by a vigilant, active and tenacious citizenry coming together to question and confront the Council and the CO, demanding action and accountability. However, much to the glee of both, that never happens. Presently, the Cold War between the CO, and a young and dynamic CP is on, one of the issues being the supply of brooms to sweepers who were deprived of them for 3 months. Ultimately the AAP came to the rescue by gifting them.
Shortly, yet another Council, from whom much was expected, as it had sincere, competent and hardworking people in its midst, is on its way out, with nothing significant to its credit. While many Councils have had to face the brunt of uncooperative and, in fact, hostile Governments, the present one had some respite for about half of its term when Goa Forward supported the BJP Government and its leader was part of the Cabinet. The Council is elected to serve the interests of the entire city and not of a particular area. Hence, it is sheer parochialism to focus on development of particular parts of the city, while neglecting priority areas, which would be of benefit to all the citizens.
Traffic and Parking: Only multi-storey parking lots and introduction of pay parking, particularly around the Municipal Garden, market and MMC building, can solve the nightmare of parking in Margao. If credit for traffic signals at the Old Market & Bolshe circles and at Fatorda junction can rightly go to Fatorda MLA, the blame for not having tried enough to turn the proposed parking lots in Margao into reality, while he was in the Cabinet, should also go to him. Traffic Police must be more active and ensure disciplined parking, especially on the roads and in turns, instead of only lifting two-wheelers and collecting fines from helmetless riders.
District Hospital: This is a pleasant reality, though the location is not, adding to the heavy flow on National Highway, which already has the Mathany Complex, the bus stand and the SGPDA Market in the vicinity. Perhaps a better location would have been the Government usurped area belonging to Hospicio, around the sanatorium, where the narrow access road could have been widened. I am also pained to hear that instead of compensating with employment the farmers, land losers in Fatorda, the Health Minister has accommodated people from Valpoi, Satari & Bicholim, both at District & ESI Hospitals. If this is true, it is surprising that the Fatorda MLA has not prompted the local people to rise in revolt.
Garbage & Filth: Far from any improvement, garbage and filth continue to haunt Margao. Cattle near the Municipality and Bank of India with roads and footpaths smeared with their excreta are common sight. Such filth in the heart of the city is unacceptable. Plants, shrubs and branches of trees are kept by the roadside to be lifted by MMC trucks. But this happens only occasionally, whereas it needs to be done at least twice a week, so as to avoid an ugly sight and incidence of mosquitoes. Absence of designated sites to dispose debris, also compel people to place them by roadside, turning into a hindrance to vehicular traffic. Garbage stations are an eyesore. They ought to have been latched but are left open, at the mercy of dogs. The area turns into a nauseating site both for neighbours and those passing by.
Sonsoddo, the gold mine dump, is a mystery to many with total lack of transparency. Madganvkars only know that besides daily collection of garbage – paid for even if you have none from a closed apartment or shop – cleaning storm drains and removal of shrubs pre and post monsoons, respectively there is hardly any other work done by MMC, except crores paid to Fomento. The money is ours and if there is no dishonesty involved, the MMC, before its term ends, should not shy away from publishing details of work done by and amounts paid to Fomento. Recently, Michael Lobo asserted that bio-remediation work at Sonsoddo is near complete, whereas eye witnesses vouch that only 25% waste is “screened”. This goes by the pompous name of bio-remediation. Citizens must know the payment made for this work. He also stated that seven mini plants, costing Rs 2 crore each, are proposed at the site. Waste of public funds is going unhindered. Hydraulic plastic bailing machines were left to rot in the rains. Construction of sheds for them has not yet started though work orders were given 3 months. Though crores have been spent, a lasting solution to the garbage problem seems still a distant dream. Shadow Council has commendably been keeping an eye and exposing various scams including tenders for desilting works and missing file of bills for eight lakhs purportedly spent for the poor during lockdown.
We can only hope and pray that citizens will be more alert and proactive and compel future Councils and COs to work for the people and not alone warm chairs and receive perks and salaries.
(The author is a retired banker)
