Christanand Pednekar
QUEPEM: In Quepem Town there is a famous locality in the municipal area called “Bhandar Bhatt” and its name originated during the Portuguese era. The Bhandar Bhatt was constructed during the Portuguese rule to control high flow of Kushwati River water during the monsoon.
According to the locals, this water was used for drinking purpose due to shortage of water supply during that time and was also used for agricultural purpose.
Today in Quepem town, the locals have voiced out their problem saying that they are unable to get proper public place or park to spend some leisure time. The only venue for some relaxation for the locals is Bhandar Bhatt in Quepem Municipal Council jurisdiction. Sadly, Bhandar Bhatt is in a miserable state due to utter negligence of the concerned authorities. Today, this place has been converted into a dumping ground for heaps of garbage and also a venue for some illegal activities in the night, according to the locals of Bhandar Bhatt and Sonara Bhatt.
The Bhandar Bhatt area should be an attractive place not only for the locals but should be developed as the tourist spot for the domestic and foreign tourists.
The locals’ grievance is that the maintenance of the place should be prioritised by the Quepem Municipal Council and the concerned department (Water Resources Department). But today, when you visit this place, there’s a proof that the irrigation canal which is connected to the Bhandar Bhatt is not maintain and looks like a dump yard, which shows the negligence of concerned authority.
The locals mention that the place and the constituency belongs to Quepem MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar. So it’s his responsibility to act for proper development of Bhandar Bhatt, Quepem.
Pedro Gonsalves, a local said, “There is no proper maintenance or willingness shown by the concerned authority or department for the past 20 years or so. Also the Quepem Municipal Council has not shown any interest to put pressure on the Irrigation Department.
Julio Dias, another local said, “Today Bhandar Bhatt has become a venue for anti-social elements during the night. There is risk for the local residences during the night time and the local police are struggling to give better service to the locals.”
Former chairperson and present councillor Filu D’Costa said, “In our childhood days Bhandar Bhatt was well-maintained but today the situation has changed.”
Raul Pereira, a local councillor of Bhandar Bhatt and also former chairperson of Quepem Municipal Council said, “As a local councillor of the ward, I personally complained verbally on this issue to the Irrigation Department for not maintaining Bandhar Bhatt and also urged to repair and maintain the cross canal bridge, whose railings have been totally damaged and collapsed. The concerned department has not shown any interest to repair the bridge and the locals complained to me about the anti-social elements which are disturbing the peace and harmony of the village.”
He further said, “If the concerned department is unable to shoulder the responsibility properly then they should hand over the charge to the Quepem Municipal Council.”
