Besides the inauguration of administrative and fruit-vegetable building projects, which were constructed during the erstwhile Congress government, it appears that no development has taken place in the Valpoi Municipal Council (VMC) jurisdiction since the last two years.
The upgradation of the crematorium, kabrastan, cemetery and municipal ground has been pending for years.
It may be recalled that the government had granted administrative sanction to renovate the crematorium, kabrastan and cemetery but since the last two years there is no official word on financial sanction regarding the same.
According to sources, the municipality has been constantly following up these issues since last two years but proposal is still pending for reasons best known to the authorities concerned.
Presently, all three — crematorium, kabrastan and cemetery are in bad shape with no proper facilities to perform final rites.
The compound wall too is in a dilapidated state and requires urgent repairs but due to certain hurdles the project has been stuck.
According to VMC Chairman Ramdas Shirodkar, “The renovation of two crematoriums, two kabrastans and the cemetery will be taken as per the proposal. As soon as Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) sanctions funds, the same will be commissioned soon.”
“Since the last decade, people have been demanding urgent renovation as they have been facing a lot of inconvenience to perform final rites. The project once completed, will have a new compound wall with proper infrastructure to perform funeral rites,” Shirodkar added.
The locals are disgruntled over the project delay and have accused the government of playing “vindictive” politics in developing Valpoi municipal areas.
Mangaldas Shirodkar, a senior citizen said, “Government should not politicise the development issue, which ultimately affects the common man. Since the last decade, the municipality has been struggling to get the crematorium renovated. The municipality has time and time again assured the locals to complete the project but to no avail.”
