ASMITA POLJI
asmita@herald-goa.com
The coastal constituency of Siolim has been known worldwide following the death of British teenager Scarlet Keeling in 2009.
The Scarlet case brought to fore the unabated drug-peddling on the beaches of Anjuna, Vagator and other adjacent areas.
Although police claim that there are no drug peddling activities in Goa, the truth seems to be just the opposite.
Siolim is also a coastal area having beautiful beaches like Vagator and Anjuna but compared to Calangute no facilities like changing rooms, toilets are provided. The whole beach is under darkness and needs high mast lamps for the security and safety of the tourists.
Siolim constituency comprises six village panchayats – Verla Canca, Assagao, Anjuna, Siolim-Marna, Siolim-Odxel and Siolim-Sodiem.
Siolim is represented by Dayanand Mandrekar, for last four terms, who despite being the Number 2 minister in the cabinet his constituency speaks a sorry tale.
Locals say Mandrekar, who has been voted by the people for the last four terms has failed to create basic development in the constituency. Facilities, such as regular water supply for at least four to six hours per day, proper electricity supply and good roads are still not fulfilled.
People here have also been demanding a garbage treatment plant because Siolim has become a garbage dumping area.
With locals dumping garbage carelessly, the roadside creates a bad image for the tourists.
In the last term many projects have been taken up but left incomplete and people allege double the estimated amount is spent on petty projects such as the river front jetty, estimated around Rs 20 crore, has been currently stayed by NGT.
Rosario, a local, said: “For the last many years we are facing problems of water and electricity but the MLA is not bothered about these issues. He has done good work only in his area and of his people who are close to him.”
Luis D’Souza local said, “When we go to Calangute it looks like we have come to a different place and we don’t feel like coming back to Siolim, as there nothing in Siolim which people or tourist can get attracted to.”
This election, Goa Suraksha Manch, Nationalist Congress Party, Goa Forward, Aam Admi Party as well as Independent candidates have filed nominations to contest in this constituency.
Paresh Raikar, GSM candidate for Siolim, said: “A minister is representing this constituency for last four terms but a tense environment is formed in this constituency with lack of basic facilities such as bad roads, irregular water supply, low voltage and electricity supply and unemployment. GSM is formed to save Goa. We have promised people that all their problems will be solved immediately”.
Vinod Palyekar, a Goa Forward candidate, who has garnered good support in the constituency, said compared to other constituencies, Siolim lacks basic development and has gone twenty years backward.
Dayanand Mandrekar, WRD minister who represents Siolim said: “Development cannot happen within one night. It is a continuous process and takes time. We have always tried to create sufficient development in Siolim constituency and are still doing.”
