PANJIM, MARCH 12:Ward 26 which forms part of Portais area of the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) is marked with some beautiful houses.
It though does not have inherent problems which other parts of the city face consequent to rampant construction activity, it does have its share of problems.
Scarcity of parking facility is one such problems which has been aggravated as there is no scope for widening of roads here.
“Only solution is to control the vehicles using inner network of roads,” suggested one resident but did not want to be named.
Well, the problem seems to have slipped the attention of the city fathers while residents keep complaining about vehicles causing obstruction to their passage in the area.
Also the problem which has been ignored is about open drains which are there in most part of the St Tome area.
“The open drains have led to many a accidents here, mainly in monsoons, “pointed out one of the resident who has witnessed many such incidents. One of the open drains happens to be in front of her house.
Residents also complaint that hardly any works were conducted in the ward in the last five years.
Rui Ferreira, who is contesting on NCP-supported panel, said no development works were done here because the outgoing corporator , Adv Avinash Bhonsle, had raised his voice against ill-doings of the ruling panel.
If elected, Rui Ferreira has plans for bringing in development for this ward which he believes has been neglected.
According to him the perennial problem in the area is landslides. He also wants speed breaker installed on the slope behind Panjim Residency.
“Vehicular traffic on this road has gone due to a starred hotel which is located on the slope, “says Ferreira.
On the other hand an independent candidate Oscar Cunha, who has received support of BJP’s panel – Panaji First and Panjimites’ Initiative for Change (PINC) , believes landslide is a grave problem. The ward is in a dire need of better footpaths and drainage system.
“No retaining wall has been constructed in the area,” he pointed out.
Cunha also believes there is a lot of scope for beautification of the area which has been identified as heritage site.
Though there are four contestants in the fray in this ward — the fight is likely to be triangular.
Noted entrepreneur, Dennis Edward George is contesting from Babush panel.
Fourth contestant in the ring is one Premanand Naik.
