Bindiya Chari
bindiya@herald-goa.com
Siridao: People of St Andre constituency may not have come on the streets to protest at every opportunity, but it does not mean that there are no issues here.
With population of about 21000, St Andre comprises Goa Velha, Siridao, Batim-Satan-Moula, Nevra, Aggassaim, Mandur and Curca-Bambolim.
“Though this constituency does not look backward and has a good network of internal roads, it has not seen any major project, even though unemployment is an issue here,” says Domnic Fernandes from Batim.
The proposed merger of
“Francis Silveira is on the TCP board and we had expected that he would take up the issue, but he didn’t, “ says Kanta Naik, a villager.
Some of the villagers are not in favour of RP 2021 especially, people in those areas who come under the purview of the RP.
Most mundkars here have small land holdings and naturally, they are afraid they would lose their small land holdings when broad roads are build as per RP parameters. “Though the issue has lost its sheen, it may still be an election issue since mundkars are upset,“ said Fernandes.
Unemployment and dilapidated status of Mandur Health Centre, are other prime issues. “Two years back some people agitated demanding that Mandur health centre be upgraded. The health minister had promised to do the needful, but a status quo remains,” says P S Naik, a teacher from Dongri.
The health centre has not been in use since most of time the centre does not have a full time health officer. “It’s a long pending demand of the people of St Andre that the road passing through Goa Velha be widened. This demand has fallen on deaf ears.
While bull fights is banned in the State — this is one constituency where bull fights are held regularly with the blessings of the authorities. “It’s a serious issues which needs to be tackled, as police look the other way when such incidents are brought to their notice,” says Naik.
Are candidates aspiring to contest from this constituency even aware of problems facing St Andre?
