Team Herald
PANJIM: Ward number 7 has been represented by Shweta Lotlikar, who was backed by the BJP which was in power in the Corporation of the City of Panaji for about half the term. In terms of development, ward residents don’t have much to complaint about but feel their ward should be neat and clean. The major issues in this ward are parking and traffic management.
The ward includes the area from the Sewerage Plant to Hamara School, and has two hospitals, a mall, a couple of showrooms, government offices and quarters. Besides this, there is the fire station just next to the ward and is accessed from ward number 7. The voting population is 850 but residents are over 2000.
The major junction at Caculo mall and the parking mess created by visitors to the mall is a major issue here. At peak hours, especially in the evening, traffic jams are routine which not only affect people from the ward but others too.
“Though the roads are broad and have now been repaired, traffic jams are a daily problem. Sometimes cops handle the traffic but there is need of a proper junction with signals,” said S Naik, a local from St Inez. Other than this the ward is a very developed locality.
Locals also complain about drains which get flooded in the monsoon and need to be fixed. Despite complaints to the authorities and to the councillor the work on the drains has not been done, a local added.
The St Inez creek also passes through this ward leading to pollution in the locality. Complaints from locals over the creek pollution are increasing as are the number of mosquitoes in the last few years.
“The situation may lead to spreading of dangerous disease in the locality, not only here but also in other parts where the creek passes through,” said Atul Fernandes, a local.
Present councillor Lotlikar said she has struggled to resolve the issue of parking and traffic but she could not do it completely but takes credit for making no parking areas in her ward.
“The parking and traffic issues started in 2011 when Caculo Mall came up in the ward. Several complaints to the police have been futile and clamping by CCP has also stopped. If clamping had continued there would be some control,” Lotlikar said.
Though she is not contesting the election, her husband has filed his nomination backed by Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate.
