Team Herald
CANDOLIM: The renovation of the Dr Gustavo Monteiro football ground has left the Candolim residents in a quandary as they claim to have not been taken into confidence with regards to the work.
There are rumours that the ground will be leased out to a private party for several years and another ground will be built for the Candolim youth.
At a resolution adopted at the recent gram sabha, the locals demanded to know the estimated cost of the project, its allotment, and financer.
Candolim local and a former player of Sesa Goa A Veronica Fernandes informed that Dr Gustavo Monteiro had gifted this ground to the Candolim Panchayat. It was an act of sincere generosity carried out in 1961 when an average Goan mainly the settlers in particular had become totally corrupt.
“He donated the ground with the clear instruction to the then Panchayat body to use it for the development and promotion of football among Candolim youth without any reservation. It is the duty of every Candolcar to see to it that the instructions are implemented by the current panchayat body. If this ground is going to be handed over on lease then it must be strongly opposed,” Fernandes said.
“Dr Monteiro was instrumental in getting the ground for the Candolim youth after negotiating with the Bishop of Goa in whose custody it was given by the nuns who has earlier acquired it to construct a convent/school for girls. The Bishop while handing over the ground to Dr Monteiro had made it clear that the ground had to be utilised for the benefit of the local boys only,” he added.
Another Candolim local, Damiao Teles said they are happy that the work is being carried out by the panchayat but sought for some form of transparency into the same. He had applied form an RTI seeking details related to ground renovation work. To his dismay, the Candolim Panchayat sent him a reply that no information and records were available in the office.
“They have not passed a resolution at the gram sabha that the ground will be renovated. They only today us that it will be best ground in North Goa. We want it to be maintained and used by the locals and not outsiders. We want to know what facilities will be available at this ground if matches will be held here. We want some assurance from them that it will remain with the locals. We want to know who is carrying out the work, the amount spent and the ground plan,” Teles demanded.
However, Candolim sarpanch Blaize Fernandes rubbished all claims that the ground will be given to private companies and informed that it is being developed for the locals. “These are all rumours. The ground is being renovated for the public,” he said.
An official from FC Goa on the condition of anonymity confirmed that they dropped the idea of taking up the Candolim ground due to the parking issue.
“We dropped the idea, a year-and-a-half ago and now it is not for us sure. The only ground we were in discussion to develop in collaboration with the panchayat and other relevant stakeholders was the one at Parra. That was a while ago,” he said.
