Though there has been much hue and cry by Panjimities regarding the off-shore casino vessels floating in the River Mandovi-part of the capital city Panjim- this crucial and controversial issue has not found a place in the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) manifestos released by any of the three panels- Panjim First (BJP), Progress for Panjim (Atanasio Monserrate) and United Panjim Front (Congress).
The manifestos laid down by the BJP and Monserrate have not uttered a word regarding the shifting of these vessels out of the River Mandovi. The Congress though, has promised to provide relief to voters from traffic congestion and the parking mess caused due to the staff working at these vessels and the visitors patronizing the casinos.
The issue surrounding these off shore vessels floating in the River is mainly that of water pollution. This has been haunting locals for quite some time now. The CCP is a licensing authority which grants the No Objection Certificates (NOC) to the casino offices which are on shore in the city premises. “It is a shame that not one panel has spoken about passing a resolution to shift the casinos out of the river if they are elected,” Anand Madgaonkar, a prominent citizen and activist reacted.
Madgaonkar is also a member of the Aam Aadmi Aurat Against Gambling (AAAAG) and he claimed that the CCP has all the power to act against the illegal casino staff and parking of visitors while also providing them with tickets, besides having other facilities. “These casinos have become a big nuisance for residents of the city and travelers who come here,” he alleged.
When contacted, Congress’ CCP election in-charge, MLA Pandurang Madkaikar said that though the party is in favour of shifting the casino vessels out of the city, the CCP has no role in it. “It is at the government level,” he explained.
A closer look at all the three manifestos shows the same ‘age old’ promises and assurances. A garbage free Panjim, relief from traffic congestion, parking problems, mismanaged mobility within the city and desilting and beautification of the St Inez creek top the list. “We have been listening to the same promises for the last decade but till now nothing has happened. It has always been Monserrate and the BJP ruling the Corporation with all their promises remaining only on paper,” Marcus Fernandes, a 60 year old resident of St Inez said. “There is nothing new in any of these manifestos,” he added.
The Progress for Panjim has launched an eight to ten page manifesto booklet while the Panjim First panel has a five page booklet. In comparison, United Panjim Front has opted for a much more concise manifesto booklet of only two pages. All of them have divided promises under four headings – Infrastructure, Sanitation facilities, Heritage and Administrative reforms.
The putrid and neglected St Inez creek and the garbage treatment plant to tackle the waste of the city is the prime attraction of the manifestos. Interestingly, these two issues were also the base of the 2011 election.
While Panjim MLA, Siddharth Kuncalienkar remained unavailable for comment, Monserrate said that the manifesto has been prepared keeping the long term needs of the people of Panjim in mind. “Rather than making the city ‘smart’ through some unrealistic proposals, it is better to make Panjim a more modern city with smaller initiatives,” he noted.
On one hand, the BJP and Monserrate have trained their focus on setting up of a garbage treatment plant behind Heera petrol pump and at Taleigao while on the other hand, the Congress has prioritized streamlining the collection of garbage and upgrading the existing treatment facilities.
None of the manifestos show any added attraction apart from the BJP boasting of completing the third Mandovi Bridge within a time frame, Monserrate selling dreams of a modern, equipped and redeveloped parade ground and the Congress wowing voters with free WiFi
facilities.
