Team Herald
PANJIM: Removal of off-shore casinos from Mandovi River, upgradation of power and water infrastructure, development/re-surfacing of all roads, solving the plaguing garbage menace, employment and rejuvenating the polluted St Inez creek are amongst many crucial issues taken up by Congress candidate Atanasio Monserrate as by-poll for the capital inches closer on May 19.
In what he calls a Vision Document, Monserrate unveiled the 22-page manifesto for the ensuing by-election claiming he will transform Panjim into a real smart city.
The manifesto, which covers all the sectors concerning the common man, has also attempted to promote save girl child movement by assuring to provide financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to new born girl in Panjim constituency. This amount will be in addition to the already existing Laadli Laxmi scheme, which also gives Rs 1 lakh assistance to eligible girls above 18 years of age. He has also assured to increase financial assistance provided under various government schemes.
During the unveiling of the manifesto in the presence of Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar, GPCC president Girish Chodankar among others, Monserrate took a dig at the current Smart City project claiming his works will not involve consultants having no knowledge about the capital’s history.
“Inclusive development with people’s participation is what I aspire for. For this purpose, we shall have ward committees, for development that will include knowledgeable professionals and ward members, rather than consultants who do not know the history of Panjim. These consultants design and impose their alien ideas on us at a huge cost. The younger generation of Panjim will be involved with their innovative ideas and modern technology to drive development forward. The committee will meet regularly making the development people participative,” his manifesto states.
The candidate has also touched upon subjects like assistance and job opportunities to senior citizens and specially-abled people, accessibility to government departments within the constituency, time-bound and trouble-free delivery of all types of government documentation, new crematorium/kabrastan facilities, efficient government projects, proposed setting up of Panjim planning office with experts on board, creation of food court, ultra modern bus stand covering all basic facilities, shifting city festivals and exhibition in the outskirts of Panjim, modernizing Panjim market, etc.
On the Mala Lake project, which has been pending for many years, Monserrate has assured its beautification besides development of parks in open space, financial assistance for repairs and painting of all heritage houses in Mala and Fontainhas areas, construction of new drainage system to avoid flooding problem in the area, installation of new garbage treatment machinery at Patto waste treatment plant and introduction of odour control mats to prevent unpleasant smell among others.
