Team Herald
MARGAO: Three wards on the North Western boundary of Margao Municipal Council (MMC)—ward no. 1, 2 and 3—were not reserved under any category in the last elections but this time ward no. 2 has been reserved for OBC even though there is a negligible OBC population in the ward.
In fact ward no. 2 has around 18 co-operative housing societies which are inhabited by people from other castes and it has around 250 Scheduled Tribe (ST) voters instead along with around 400 dhangar living in Gavliwado who also do not come under the OBC category.
In fact the outgoing councilor Lyndon Pereira says the ward was reserved for OBC only to make sure that he does not contest from that ward where he had done a lot of work and was sure to win again.
WARD NO 1
This wards consists of Mungul and Madel areas of Margao which is in the western boundary of the town remains in the general. The 2525 voters in ward no. 1 will have to choose between six candidates in fray as of now though one of them, Clara Fernandes, is expected to withdraw.
The battle this time is expected to be between BJP-backed Ranzil Mascarenhas and Goa Forward-backed Francisco Joanes who has the support of the local youth. However, former councilor Gonzago Rebello who is contesting again this time could well end up being the spoilsport for either of them.
PROBLEMS AND ISSUES:
The main problem faced by the people in this ward in the sewerage system and the perpetually blocked drains due to which water is overflowing on the roads not only during the monsoons but even otherwise.
While infrastructure facilities are quite well developed here with good roads, power and water supply, the new councilor will have to deal urgently with the problem of the sewerage leaking into the fields and also the blocked drains.
EXPECTATIONS:
People in the ward have actually minimum expectations from their councilor and would be much satisfied if the sewerage problem is solved and the road side drains are cleared regularly.
The accumulation of garbage, especially by the roadside is one of the primary issues people expect new representative to resolve first.
WARD 2
This ward includes the area around the SGPDA market, the football stadium and surrounding areas and has quite a number of co-operative housing societies there. The 3450 voters in ward no. 2 will have to choose between 3 candidates.
While there are three candidates in the fray the actual battle is expected to be between BJP-backed Kalidas Naik and Goa Forward-backed Joao Nicolau Crasto.
PROBLEMS AND ISSUES:
The main problem faced by the people in this ward in once again the non-functioning of the sewerage system and being a market area, garbage is another major problem. People are constantly dumping their garbage by their roadside and plastic waste from the shops in the market that keeps blowing all over the places.
One of the problems in the ward is that the embankments of the drains were not built properly and very often the embankment collapses when a car is parked by the side of the road. The new councilor will have to deal with garbage and the sewerage problem as infrastructure is quite well developed in this ward and would only need proper maintenance.
EXPECTATIONS:
The people in the ward want their new councilor to only keep the area clean and also complete the sewerage connection work which has been going on for years now.
WARD NO. 3
The ward no. 3 consists of the Ambajim area of Margao and the 2474 voters in the ward will have to select between 6 candidates in the fray.
The battle this time appears to be between Zico Fernandes of the BJP and Lyndon Pereira of Goa Forward with Adv Seoula Vaz fielded by the Shadow Council of Margao expected to make some inroads. Incidentally Zico has launched a very strong campaign against Lyndon questioning the need for somebody from another ward to contest in their ward.
PROBLEMS AND ISSUES:
Garbage mismanagement appears to be a major problem in this ward coupled with the terrible traffic management as it is the main entrance to the district capital. The presence of the South Goa District Hospital and the administrative complex causes traffic hurdles.
EXPECTATIONS:
The new councilor will have to deal with garbage and come out with a real workable traffic plan that will ease the traffic congestion in the area.
