PANJIM: Having a total number of 26,600 voters, Cumbharjua constituency comprises of seven village panchayats – Corlim, Old-Goa, Carambolim, Cumbharjua, St Estevam, Goltim-Navelim-Divar and São Mathias (Malar)-Divar.
The constituency is plagued by several issues including deliberate inundation of paddy fields by breaching of bunds, waste management plant proposed at Bainguinim, which has remained unresolved despite opposition from locals, frequent breakdown of ferry boats to the islands, bad condition of approach road leading to Gaundalim Bridge from Cumbharjua and the dilapidated state of playgrounds to name a few.
“The constituency, which houses the world heritage monuments of Old Goa, the major problem is the deliberate inundation of paddy fields, said a local from Corlim adding “The bund is breached using gelatin for greed of earning more out of fishing.”
According to Divar villagers, cultivable land is deliberately made to remain flooded the entire year. The concerned department is turning a blind eye to the issue despite filing multiple complaints.
They voiced the issues related to inadequate public utility services especially no approach road, frequent breakdown of ferryboats, rise in unemployment being prominent in the constituency.
The decade-long issue of the waste management plant proposed to be set up at Bainguinim, Old-Goa still stands unresolved despite facing strong opposition from locals. Yet another issue is the building of the illegal bungalow within the area of the heritage site.
“People are educated now. We demand scrapping of all such projects which is leading to the destruction of our holy heritage land,” said Kiran Naik, a local from Old Goa.
The bad condition of the approach road leading to Gaundalim bridge from Cumbharjua village is another major issue faced by the locals, which they had demanded be resolved with priority.
The farmers of Cumbharjua are yet to be compensated for the land they had handed over to the government for building of road.
It has almost been half-a-decade since the road was opened but the farmers who had parted with their land for the construction of road are still waiting to receive the compensation.
On the rising rate of unemployment, the local feels the government should amend the reservations based on constituency level so that youth from other constituencies won’t have to go through the recruitment process.
