The villagers of Siolim are eager for development to visit their village; however, they decry the lackadaisical attitude of the local authorities and the MLA as no development project has been initiated.
While many other panchayats in the State are constructing market complexes and bus stands, Siolim appears to have been left behind in setting up proper infrastructure for the village.
“Our village had an old market at the Tar, where vegetable, fruits and fish was sold. This old market was demolished for a link road to the Siolim-Chopdem Bridge through fertile fields. The main reason was to allow public buses plying between Morjim and Mapusa via Siolim, once the ferry service was discarded for the new bridge,” recalled Siolim-based social activist Gregory D’Souza.
“Siolim village has a notified bus stand, but nobody has worked on this project to develop it into a full-fledged bus stand. If Assonora village can have a beautiful bus stand, why is Siolim being left behind,” asked D’Souza.
“The Transport department should decide about this or else, they can convert this bus stand into a public square for tourism. Else, they can notify the stand for goods carriage or taxi stand or for pay parking,” he added.
D’Souza felt that TCP department should constitute a taskforce to interact with residents and the local bodies, to help plan proper infrastructure for the village.
Another social activist, Fatima Fernandes, opined that the State government “should convene a meeting of the panchayat and the local MLA to identify important infrastructure that is needed for Siolim.”
“Today, illegal constructions are flourishing along the link road and the PWD is turning a blind eye to such encroachments. There will be no setback left for the future road-widening work. Structures once built are difficult to demolish due to political patronage everywhere in the State,” said Fernandes.
She also agreed that a full-fledged bus stand and a market complex are two projects desperately needed for Siolim.
“For this to happen, all stakeholders including the shopkeepers, the Siolim Comunidade, tenants, fruit and vegetable vendors, as well as public transporters have to be taken into confidence. Otherwise, there will be opposition to any project,” said D’Souza.
When contacted, Siolim Sarpanch Savita Govekar stated that the panchayat was also in favour of a village market to be developed at Tar Tarchi bhat.
“The village needs to have at least one proper market. There is already a fish market, but a fruit and vegetable market will add to the development of the village. But the only problem is of the land, where is the land available for a market,” asked Govekar.
