Team Herald
VASCO: The Chicalim Village Development Committee on Saturday urged the concerned authorities to fix the damaged lamps of the Jogger’s Park Chicalim immediately so that the people from village could utilise the park for walking and other recreational activities.
Chicalim sarpanch Sebastiao Pereira said he will look into the matter and urged the villagers to inform the panchayat if they come across any issues.
Chicalim VDC Member Alka Damle said, “The jogger’s park, which cost around Rs 60 crore to built just a couple of years ago, is now in a terrible state. In spite of raising the issue in recently held gram sabha, the concerned authorities have not restored the electricity supply leave alone the other maintenance. As a result of which the jogger’s park closes at 6 pm. When inquired with the authorities they are not even giving us any information.”
She said, “As of now the Chicalim ground is also closed for the villagers. The only place where people could go for a walk and children can go to play is the jogger’s park. Hence it needs immediate attention of the authorities to improve the upkeep on a priority basis.”
“We the residents of Chicalim appeal to the panchayat to do the needful immediately. At least, restore the lights so that people can enjoy their evening walk and the jogger’s park can be kept open till 9 pm as before,” Damle added.
Cyril Fernandes said the issue of non-functioning of lamps from the jogger’s park had come up during the recent gram sabha, wherein the sarpanch had admitted that the panchayat do not have enough funds to undertake maintenance of these lamps.
“As per my knowledge, the maintenance of the jogger’s park should be done by GSIDC since it is a subject of the State since it was built by the GSIDC. The panchayat should utilise its funds for the development of the village,” Fernandes added.
The sarpanch said that after the issue of non-functioning of lamps came up, we got it repaired. The reason behind these lamps not functioning was that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the jogger’s park was closed and then there were some minor issues of some electrical wires developing carbon, but it was rectified.
He said, “After the repair work was done the lamps were functioning, but now I do not know whether there is some problem since it is the electronic goods, it may encounter problems. The GSIDC contractor had also visited the park and the cleaning work is almost on the verge of completion. I will once again look into the matter.”
“I feel if the villagers come across some problems or issues in their areas then they should first come and inform us so that the panchayat can immediately attend to the problem and solve it,” Pereira added.
