TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The voters of Fatorda constituency although don’t have any major issues with regards to development related activities in their area, especially pertaining to roads, and beautification, however, many feel that the decades old issues like Sonsodo dump yard, lack of bus terminus and wholesale fish market need to be resolved at the earliest.
At the same time residents of Fatorda are also looking seriously towards lack of employment opportunities for the locals and meagre compensation to land owners for parting with their prized asset for big infrastructure projects such as the new South Goa district hospital and District Collector complex.
There are not many issues here related to agriculture and farmers. However the pollution caused by sewage into the open fields and River Sal has become a headache for everybody. Roadside garbage is another issue which has resulted in spoiling the beauty of Fatorda.
Speaking to Herald, Michael Dias from Agalli stressed on issues such as unemployment.
“The new district hospital and South Goa Collectorate are considered as the major government services in Fatorda. Shockingly, we have noticed less preference is given to the locals while recruiting staff in the district hospital,” he said.
He further claimed that most the people employed in district hospital are from Valpoi and other places. There are hardly any locals being employed in the hospital.
“Even the willing land givers for this district hospital were not considered. This is a major issue that needs to be resolved,” Michael Dias said.
According to Savio Dias, residents of Madel said release of sewage in the open fields and into the River Sal are two of major issues of Fatorda.
“People are raising their voices against the mismanagement of the sewage system, which has resulted in major health hazards in Fatorda. This release of raw sewage has further resulted in pollution all over, especially Sal River, which is considered as the lifeline of Salcete,” Savio Dias said.
He also pointed out the mess at the wholesale fish market at Madel and said nobody seems serious in resolving this issue.
“The issues at wholesale fish market has a direct impact not in Fatorda but entire Goa, as all the major fish dealers and vendors visit this market on a daily basis,” he stated.
Another citizen of Fatorda also highlighted the issue pertaining to the agricultural land acquired for the truck terminus. He urged the administration to return the land back to the farmers.
Francisco Pinto raised the issue of marginalised people, mostly from the Scheduled Caste community, who are deprived of land and benefits of giving their agricultural lands to government projects.
“There are a large number of marginalised people in Fatorda constituency who are facing lots of hardships as they don’t have land to build their own house. On the other hand, there is huge land belonging to Communidade,” he said.
