CALANGUTE: Candolim locals have complained that the Nag Tollem in the village had not been maintained for over three years, due to which it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The fountain installed in the lake has also been non-functional for the same period.
The locals have informed the panchayat that the lake had not been cleaned nor had the fountain been repaired despite repeated requests. Raising fears of a dengue and malaria outbreak in the village, they even raised the issue at the recently-held gram sabha.
The panchayat assured to take up the matter with the concerned department and the Water Resources Department (WRD) minister, but nothing has been done till date.
The locals have demanded the immediate maintenance of the lake and that the panchayat seriously take up the issue with the WRD minister or Calangute MLA.
At the gram sabha, panch Blaise Fernandes had said, “We had taken up the matter with the WRD on a few occasions. There seems to be some political fallout between the Calangute MLA and WRD minister, due to which the issue has been prolonged. Ex-MLA Agnelo Fernandes has now taken up the matter with the concerned minister and it will be resolved soon. We have written to WRD to repair the fountain in the Nag Tollem and expect a positive reply.”
Meanwhile, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo stated that the panchayat had kept him in the dark over the Nag Tollem issue. He added, “Whatever development works I have taken up have never been kept on hold. Since the issue was discussed at the recently-held gram sabha, I will surely take up the matter with the concerned department. The issue will be resolved soon.”
The locals added that Lobo had taken up the cleaning of paddy fields near the lake and had assured to look into the Nag Tollem issue.
