BICHOLIM: There seems to be no end to the issues faced by Bicholkars. With every election the same development-related assurances are reflected in every political party’s agenda.
“Bicholim, which is presently represented by BJP, still remains underdeveloped with several major projects yet to take shape. It has been a decade and the politicians seem to be asking for votes on the same issues,” local resident Nikhil Dixit said.
Not much has changed since last one decade as several projects including swimming pool, Ravindra Bhavan or at least a mini auditorium, a common administrative building, KTC bus stand and other such projects are still to see the light of the day.
The constituency is having a total population of 28,045 with 13,800 males and 14,245 females.
“There is an industrial estate already existing in Bicholim. But the basic infrastructure and facilities provided to them are poor,” claims Dixit adding, “No big industries are coming here and so there aren’t enough jobs created for locals.”
There are many issues faced by the people of this constituency and the major being unemployment. “There is widespread unemployment in the constituency and most government jobs are going to Sattari. Youths from Bicholim are not getting any jobs,” Deelip Desai, a local lamented.
“Most of the major projects including swimming pool, Ravindra Bhavan and other such projects were shifted to Sanquelim and we were left with nothing,” Bholanath Gad, another local claims.
The lone industrial estate is crying for attention with many companies closing their businesses. As unemployment is the major issue, almost all the political parties have focused on the upcoming industrial estate at Latambarcem and are trying to woo the voters claiming that they would get new industries in the panchayat.
“Almost all the candidates claim to get new industries at Latambarcem. But we don’t know as to why the project is still kept incomplete. If these projects come up then I am sure that the youth will get employment in the private sector,” Gauri Chodankar, a resident said. A new bus stand is also the need of the hour. After laying several foundation stones for the bus stand, the work was finally started just before the elections. People also demand that the Bicholim CHC should be upgraded with more facilities so that the patients would not have to go to Asilo, Mapusa.
Bicholim also needs a swimming pool and an indoor stadium. Besides this, a fire station which is coming up near Bicholim Industrial Estate needs to be completed at the earliest.
