Ever since the first election in the 1960s till date, Panjim is steadily losing its traditional aura, sheen and the glorious heritage charm of the yore. The pristine waters of River Mandovi kept the population of the city beaming with health, wealth and happiness.
The rich green fields around Taleigao and Caranzalem provided fresh fruits, vegetables and grains which I fully endorse and patronise, even today. In turn, Panjim served as a centre for trade and commerce, supplying fish, meat as the market in Panjim did help to centralise and distribute from Agassaim, Santa Cruz, Dona Paula, Merces, Curca, Siridao and Bambolim.
But, sadly today, Panjim in under seize of bad governance. The issue is of utter chaos and mismanagement of our resources: man and material.
In the name of “Development”, Panjim is being destroyed for eternity. There are signs of total destruction and decay, wherein, the real estate industry concretised central Panjim, with mega building complexes mushrooming all around. These match box structures, have left no parking spaces for cars and with two wheelers increasing beyond Panjim’s carrying capacity.
There is no space for pedestrians, visitors and senior citizens, as footpaths are usurped by traders or vehicles. We do not have a Solid Waste Management plant in place and garbage litter strewn all around has clogged drains and choked the Mandovi River with plastics, which is adversely affecting our marine gene biodiversity and health of the fish consuming Goans; as pollutants in Mandovi have entered the food chain and bio magnified in the tissues of our marine resources; be it clams, mussels, oysters, prawns and fish. The consequence of sewage, motor oils, heavy metals and leached chemicals from paints and garbage entering our river and water supply system is increasing the enteric infections and the insurmountable growth of cancers amongst the residents of Panjim.
Sadly car washing and motor repairs in Panjim is on streets and not garages. Panjim ought to get daily 24×7 water supply on an urgent basis. The engineers of the water supply department have on purpose contaminated the entire water supply chain and network by adding numerous water release valves, diverting water supply to rich commercial units and denying adequate supply to the residents. When vacuum is created and the water supply is stopped, sewage water enters the corroded water pipes. This daily supply of contaminated water is a result of laying down of water and sewage pipes close to one another. The main cause of jaundice, dysentery and enteric infections, especially during monsoon, is due to the PWD aberration and negligence. Every MLA, minister and the Chief Minister has understood the bad logic of interrupted two hours water supply to Panjim and vowed in every manifesto released during elections to supply round the clock clean and safe drinking water to Panjim. Nearly Rs 200 crore, have been invested under JNNURM to lay new pipeline network and to supply safe drinking water. Sadly safe drinking water for Panjim is a “Piped Dream” for the last 25 years.
There are more vehicles on Panjim streets, pavements and they even are stationed in “No Parking” areas all around Panjim. The casino and pleasure trips, with the son of a minister allegedly adding vessels to the floating chaos over River Mandovi, have polluted the Mandovi further. The entire residential area in Central Panjim has been sealed with out-stationed vehicles thus denying residents entry or exit from their homes on 24×7 basis.
The traffic police in Panjim can be considered the worst offenders as implementers of traffic rules and sense. There is no coordination between the City Corporation of Panaji (CCP) and the traffic police. Needless to mention that the traffic chaos in Panjim is mostly in late evenings when the CCP offices are already closed down. One does not understand why the former MLAs of Panjim did not put up a workable traffic management plan in place, wherein pay parking fees could be collected from those parking in Central Panjim and fines from those parking in No Parking Zones. The violators essentially are the outstation vehicles.
Again we all know that a healthy river sustains a healthy civilisation all around the world. In Goa, we have a Captain of Ports who acts as a “headless-jumping chicken” killing our River Mandovi. Unless, our new MLA resolves to suspend and punish the errant officers of the CoP, who are the main cause of Panjim woes, and also scrap and dissolve the office of the Imagine Panjim Smart City Corporation, the city woes would continue for eternity. That Congress resolved to take off casinos of out River Mandovi is a blessing for Panjimites.
Look all around Panjim ‑ crores of rupees are invested in needless projects and installations which is a big BJP smart city scam.
The entire water front is destroyed by the upcoming White Elephant of CoP under the term the “Terminal Building of CoP”. None of the aspirants to the Panjim Assembly seat have actually worked to take the Bull by the Horns. The piling, drilling of the river bed by CoP would kill marine biodiversity, as open defecation urination and unscientifically executed works by Kargwal Constructions of Mumbai would not only kill River Mandovi but put the lives of the residents of Panjim into jeopardy as the upcoming structure would adversely block the flow of water into Panjim city into River Mandovi. Also the restaurant planned on the Terminal Building would not be able to handle garbage in the No development zone of River Mandovi.
The new MLA has to seriously ensure that the “Heritage Status” of Panjim is strictly maintained and the green cover of Panjim and the blue ambience of Mandovi is strictly restored. Would BJP’s failure be Congress’s opportunity? The Panjimites will declare.
Health is wealth and Panjimites deserve a serene, peaceful life, far from the grey, concrete jungles mushrooming around Goa, in the ugly garb of development. We must choose one who would meet our aspirations to save Panjim from degenerating further on, with festering festivals killing us.
