Aquem which lies on the foothill and the eastern end of Moti Dongor is a huge area of the Margao Municipal Council. Cluttered with residential building and luxurious villas, Aquem is now packed. The Aquem Alto and Aquem Baixo region has some of the oldest and largest Housing Societies in Goa but the Aquem of today is definitely not the same.
“Our biggest problem in Aquem is the traffic because of the shops and establishments and offices that have extended from the city of Margao into what was once a residential area. I don’t see much that the council can do but it can at least get rid of the gaddas and illegal vendors who are right at the edge of the road all along from Babu Naik right up till Carmelite Monastery,” explains Suraj Naik, an Aquem Alto resident.
Similarly, Aquem ward 22 councillor, Arthur D’Silva who shifted base with the help of former MLA, Babu Naik’s son, Bhai Naik stated that Aquem needs proper planning and its garbage problem needs to be streamlined and put in place.
“There are many small homes and flats in Aquem. The garbage generated is disposed off in a haphazard manner and this gravely affects the ward. People need to be made aware of door to door collection and must not throw out their garbage. They should sort it and make sure it goes to Sonsoddo. Hygiene in my ward is my main concern,” explained Arthur.
Similarly, Avinash Shirodkar from ward 19, who shifted into the new ward from ward 18 also has his concerns on hygiene and brings to our notice the Sulabh toilets behind Cine Vishant and along that road.
“Firstly, the ward has a lot of old buildings and the sewerage network has not been linked for many years for various reasons and this affects the ward. There are overflowing drains and septic tanks. In my previous stint, I replaced many old sewerage lines with PVC pipes to improve hygiene,” he stated.
Shirodkar says that people around Aquem Junction are petrified by that area and the migrants who defecate, drink and carry out many other illegal activities in the open which he wants to curb and stop immediately through police and the intervention of municipal authority.
“The roads are so narrow in Aquem and the sidewalks are built without leaving a shoulder for these roads. Traffic is Aquem’s biggest menace. The councillor needs to re-plan Aquem and find a solution to the traffic choke and the garbage menace,” explains Dean D’Souza, a proprietor who resides in Aquem.
Similarly, Anjash Patil who has lived in Aquem for many years in a rented space in Moti Dongor which lies in current councillor Sharad Prabhudessai’s ward asserted that the area is infested with migrants that have tripled over the last 5 years and they live in pathetic conditions. The stench from the slum touches the homes of people in Aquem Alto and the council needs to clean the Dongor and stop playing politics on the hill.
Similarly, Asford Martins, opposite Costa Factory hopes that the new councillor, Ashlesha Naik finds a solution to the long pending Costa Ground problem and intervenes with the Costa family to develop the ground in a way to that will keep the locals happy.
Asford pointed out that Aquem has no breathing space and no open area land except a small area near the power house and hence it’s in dire need of a ground with greenery which right now is the Costa Ground. It is the last lung of the suburb.
“Watermelon sellers, pot makers, random concrete block contractors, fruit vendors etc set up illegal businesses on the Aquem road and the councillors and municipality do nothing but collect sopo tax. Even milk vendors have illegally expanded. This practice in Aquem needs to come to an end,” claims Dinesh Kamat, an Aquem resident.
The sitting MLA of Margao, Digambar Kamat asserted that the new council was elected on the basis of their manifesto and hence their credibility lies in fulfilling their manifesto. Digambar was unable to recall any of the promises listed on the winners of his panel, Model Margao.
