To all those living outside Mandrem, developments surrounding turncoat former MLA Dayanand Sopte, who quit the Congress to join the BJP much to the frustration of former BJP MLA Laxmikant Parsekar were very interesting. However, for those living in Mandrem, they are only interested in when their constituency will get the development they were promised and not so much with the ever-changing political movements in Mandrem; where Parsekar, who had promised to contest against Sopte, has now decided to stand aside and go with BJP’s decision to allow Sopte, who defeated Parsekar in 2017, to contest the by-poll elections.
The locals allege that Sopte has only woken up from his slumber now, at the time of the by-poll and is trying to lay foundation stones etc. For them it is too late, as in the last two years since he got elected, they claim the development has moved at a snail pace with no major projects completed and none of the pending projects completed.
They point out that the major projects that had been initiated during Parsekar’s such as the Electronic City project, water treatment plant, power station project are delayed while only the District Level hospital in Tuem is showing progress.
People stated that other than laying foundation stones for pipelines and other such minor works, no major works were under taken in the constituency by MLA Sopte in the last two years.
“There is nothing happening in Mandrem. There is no sign of development in any sector. All the projects are pending and the MLA is just busy laying foundation stones for roads and pipelines, says Prakash Salgaonkar.
Locals further lament that long pending issues such as scarcity of water, fluctuation of electricity, no generation of jobs, increase in number of hotels in CRZ area, haphazard garbage management are some of the major problems, which are still haunting the people of Mandrem for years.
In a bid to curb these problems, former CM and MLA Laxmikant Parsekar had tried to get in projects for Mandrem constituency, however after the 2017 elections, none of these projects have been taken forward.
With regard to the Electronic City project, the objective was that it would generate employment, a key issue in the constituency, but after Parsekar had laid the foundation stone for this project, the work has been stalled due to objections from locals over the land that was acquired for the same being forest land. Approximate 5.97 lakh sq mts of land has been acquired for the project and the access road is ready.
With no availability of proper jobs, the youth are forced to take up jobs in the tourism industry, working at hotels, restaurants and shacks as waiters, room boys or even as taxi drivers.
“We are aware that the government cannot provide government jobs to everyone but as a MLA, the existing projects which would solve unemployment issues of the constituency should have been taken up, followed up with and resolved; so that jobs can be generated in the future. Working in hotel as a waiters, room boys and receptionist is not everyone’s choice here. Even BCom, BA graduates are forced to take up these jobs”, lamented local resident Jose Fernandes.
Locals also expressed their concern over damage that has been causing to the environment as more and more hotels projects are coming up by alleged activities such as deforestation of the jungle area, hill cutting and filling up of fields. Locals alleged that hotels are coming up in CRZ areas which are owned by non- Goans.
“Development is not only about constructing roads, and buildings. Development also includes preserving nature. Tourists visit our Goa not to see a concrete jungle, but to see the beauty of nature, which includes clean beaches, green orchards, and palm trees. In the last few years, the number of foreign visitors has decreased compared to earlier numbers. I asked one Russian about Goa and he said Goa is losing its beauty because of the destruction taking place on the name of development. Goa is not like before. Government must think about sustainable development for Mandrem”, said Anuja Gaonkar.
“There are beaches in other constituencies and the MLAs of those areas have managed to get changing rooms and toilets for the tourists; however our MLA failed to do so. There is such a long coastal line in Mandrem constituency but there is not a single changing room and toilet on any beach” added Rupesh Parab.
Another major problem faced by the locals is that of water scarcity. Currently Mandrem water supply requirements are met through water tankers. Locals have also questioned what had happened to the proposal of the water treatment plant where land had been allotted for the setting up of a 10 MLD capacity water treatment plant.
“We are facing shortage of water from the last so many years. We made several complaints with the PWD and had also informed the MLA about the same. However these problems still persist. Presently, water comes in only for 2 days or for a week and then taps go dry again. All the water and electricity supply goes to the hotel lines and it is we the people, who are facing problems. Laying of the water pipeline is okay, but if no work takes place at the ground level to improve our situation, then this is not the solution to our problems. Due to the increasing number in hotel, water and electricity is major issue of concern but the MLA is not bothered,” said Sharmila Gaonkar.
Power fluctuation is another major problem faced by the residents, and again they point out that the hotels appear to be better off. They also question what had happened to the proposal of a power station and point out that the government had allotted 18,000 sq mts of land to the electricity department to set up a power station.
The failure to solve the garbage menace also, along with solving other civic issues, have upset the locals.
“The present MLA didn’t even bother to repair a small part of our roads in his 2 years tenure. And now since the election are around the corner, he has started laying foundation stones”, added local resident, Anand Naik.
“We cannot see any development happening in our constituency and we don’t think the MLA is even bothered about taking up the works,” added Peter Fernandes.
