Team Herald
Cuncolim: Six out of 14 wards of Cuncolim municipal Council (CMC) are reserved in municipal elections. Reservation is democratic obligation for government and there cannot be choice but voters of these reserved wards are not happy with the reservation policy. They ask, ‘why my ward is reserved?’ One can see the seething anger that they are bursting out against the administration.
Voters of this four reserved wards—ward no. 3, Veroda, ward no.6, Sanvorcotto, ward no.7, Comba and ward no. 8 Maddicotto are reserved ward in this election. Veroda and Comba wards are reserved for women candidates while Sanvorcotto and Maddicotto are reserved for OBC candidates. These reserved wards like other wards are also facing lots of problems and issues. Voters are not fully satisfied with the successive representatives. Some places are totally neglected by ward councilors and some issues are lying in red tape from for last thirty years. Voters of this wards are having high expectations from their elected representatives.
Ward 3- Veroda
923 Voters from Veroda, Gauthan, Fadtewada, Bhatayem will elect their next representative. In last elections this ward was ward no. 2 and was open. This time it is kept reserved for women. Outgoing councilor Shashank Dessai, who had won last elections by defeating his nearest rival Jamira Pires by 11 votes, always remained in limelight for last five years lost his chance to contest elections. Reservation policy was a big jolt to Dessai who dreamt of being on the hot seat.
PROBLEMS AND ISSUES
Veroda is a underdeveloped ward. Main problem of this ward is heavy vehicles, which go to Cuncolim Industrial Estate, commute through Veroda. Weak small bridges and narrow road with full of speed breakers are main concerns of the locals. Some places like Fadtewada area and Gauthan have not seen any development since last many years.
Issue of playing ground needed to be addressed.
Age old drainage system needed to be improvised.
Issues of power and water shortage needed to be resolved.
There are many marginalized families in this ward who are not getting the benefits of government Schemes.
Expectations and Demands
There is a big list of expectations from the next lady councilor. Suresh Dessai a young voter from this ward demanded Wardsabha ( ward meeting) to be conducted, at least twice a year. Councilor must not only look into the infrastructure development but also human development activities also.
>They demand recreation
centre for senior citizens.
>Public Hindu crematorium
>Shifting of rural medical dis
pensary at better place
>Setting up library or gym at
the abandoned government
primary School
>Introduction of agricultural
and dairy farming schemes
for local farmers
>Road widening at Bhatyem
junction
Ward 6
Sanvorcotto
Sanvorcotto is the key ward of Cuncolim Municipal Council. It’s unique that there is equal number of voters from Saraswat, Maratha, OBC and Catholic community in this ward. Voters of this ward are not happy with reservation policy. Continuously two terms this ward is kept reserved for OBC. Voters are saying its injustice done on them. In last elections also this ward was reserved for OBC. In last elections four candidates had contested elections. Outgoing councilor and former chairperson Kiran Naik had won the election by margin of 43 votes by defeating her nearest rival Satyawan Naik. Kiran had polled 256 votes while Satyawan Naik had polled 213 votes. This time Satyawan Naik is trying his luck again and the candidate who lost last elections John Dias, garnering just 96 votes, is also trying his luck again. Senor most councilor Laxman Naik who polled 99 votes in last elections is now contesting from ward number four Kegdicotto which is open ward. In this election 974 voters will decide the fate of all contesting candidates.
PROBLEMS AND ISSUES
>Main problem is power
shortage
>Narrow road from Culwada
to Sanvorcotto and
Sanvorcotto to Veroda
>Narrow road from Cuncolim
Bazar to IDC
DEMANDS AND EXPECTATIONS
Young voter Ulhas Dessai said, councilor is not only to look after drains and street lights but also as the father of the city and needs to know what people want and what is good for ward and for town. The ward demands:
>Widening of Culwada-
Sanvorcotto road and
Sanvorcotto-Veroda road
>Widening of Cuncolim Bazar
to IDC road
>Upgradation of Hindu cre
matorium at Sanvorcotto
>Beautification of small
religious structures and
open places needed to be
taken on priority
>Recreation centre and
walkers track at open place
Ward 7.
Comba Parricotto
Comba is the biggest ward geographically at Cuncolim. 1314 voters are eligible to cast their vote in the elections. Along with Comba, Pariccotto, areas from Cottamol, Carogem, Khorlem, and Shirojem fall under this ward. Mostly dominated by Catholic and Muslim Voters, this ward remained unattended for many years. Last time ward was open and Mario Morais the outgoing councilor and former VCP had won the elections with huge margin against Anthony Vaz . Mario had polled 449 votes while Anthony had polled just 197 votes. This time ward is kept reserved for women so Mario Morais lost his chance to get reelected. Morais had filed his wife’s nomination in Comba ward while he is contesting from wardno. 5 Gulleacotto instead.
ISSUES AND PROBLEMS
Voters are listing number of issues and problems. Some parts of this ward are still underdeveloped from last many years. Especially underprivileged voters had not got the civic amenities and government facilities. Main problem people are facing is the unbearable stinking smell of Fish Plants from IDC. Elected representative failed to address this issue. People are also facing power cuts and water shortage problems. Sanitation issue is also the major problem. In some areas ignorant people are throwing garbage on open needs to be kept under a vigil. Drainage system needed to be improvised and some places also found with open defecation problem. Migrants staying in rented rooms is also adding various problems like garbage, sanitation and open defecation.
DEMANDS AND EXPECTATIONS
People are expecting ward councilor to be more aggressive and proactive.
> Walking Track on Salaulim Cannal
> Beautification of open places and religious importance places
> Recreation Centre and Nana Nani park at Carojem
> Tax to rental rooms
>Volley ball court
>Improvised Drainage
system
>Conducting Wardsabha twice a year
> Getting government schemes
> Setting up rural medical dispensary
Ward 8
Maddicotto
Maddicotto is another key ward in Cuncolim town. Maddicotto ward consists of Bhencleawado, Maddicotto, Morod areas. It is also one of the biggest wards both geographically as well as population wise. 1316 voters are eligible to cast their vote. This ward was open in last elections but this time it is reserved for OBC. Reservation policy has not affected the sitting councilor but it’s benefitting to outgoing councilor and former chairperson Polita Carneiro. Carneiro had won last elections by defeating her nearest rival Satish Madaikar. Polita had polled 383 votes while Satish had polled 294 votes. Five candidates had contested in last elections. Carneiro is trying her best to get re-elected from Maddicotto ward. Voters are very furious on administration since this ward is reserved for OBC. Ward is basically dominated by Saraswat, Maratha and Catholics voters.
PROBLEMS AND ISSUES
Open Drainage and broken drainage slabs are the main issue people are facing. Part of market area comes under Madiccotto ward and people are facing traffic congestion and risk of accident on NH 17, which is passing through this ward. Other issues like power shortage, stray cattles and dogs, market garbage that creating nuisance are expected to be resolved by the next councilor.
EXPECTATIONS AND DEMANDS
>Recreation Centre
> Road widening
> Beautification of religious
and open places
> Maintenance of indoor
stadium
> Maintenance and up
gradation of walking track
> Make best use of open place
and to built small Nana Nani
park for senior citizens
> Upgradation and beautifica
tions of Pedas.
