MAPUSA: With the Anjuna Beach parking project, which was carried out under the Central government’s Swadesh Darshan scheme and inaugurated in the year 2019 still lying unused, the locals on Wednesday blamed the State government for wasting taxpayers’ money.
Social activist and Anjuna resident Ravi Harmalkar said that the project was ready in the year 2017. However, the State government inaugurated it in 2019 after spending crores of rupees of the taxpayers’ money and to have this project, the government had removed the stalls which were being run by the locals to make their earnings. However, the project was never put to use nor the people, who were earlier running their businesses were given an opportunity to put up the stalls.
“I request the present MLA and Tourism Minister to look into the matter and make the project operational. I also request the concerned department to relocate the locals who were initially operating business at this place,” Harmalkar said.
“Pay toilet facility is operational and is given to the ‘outsiders’ but there is no maintenance happening. Due to substandard work of the structure, the roof is leaking. Presently, the toilet facility is with a private contractor. It should be given to the panchayat to maintain it so that the locals will also get employment,” he said.
“When the project was inaugurated, the drinking water facility, WiFi as well as CCTV surveillance were assured. However, these facilities were never provided. The food court has become a shed for stray cattle and street dogs,” Harmalkar added.
Further, he pointed out that this was one of the best places which could have created opportunities for self-employment. We don’t want politics here, our only request is before the next season arrives, the project is made operational with all the required facilities.
