VRISHANK MAHATME
Barely six kilometres from Mapusa, Saligao, which is known for its scenic beauty is surrounded by paddy fields and green hills. But in the past decade, the beautification of the village was around the Saligao Circle. People have claimed that Saligao MLA, who is also the Tourism Minister, has failed to develop the constituency.
Locals say, Tourism Minister and Saligao MLA Dilip Parulekar, who has represented the constituency for two terms, has a lone development work to his credit and that too the beautification of Saligao Circle.
The constituency severely lacks basic facilities and urgently requires primary health centre to cater to the healthcare needs of the locals. At present, the health centre at Candolim caters to the healthcare needs of Saligao locals.
“Saligao has not been developed at all, there is no primary health centre and no proper educational facilities,” complained Sandesh Chodankar, a resident.
The constituency has approximately 30,000 voters spread across six village panchayats of Saligao, Reis Magos, Nerul, Pilerne, Sangolda and Guirim, and is all set to witness a triangular contest between Jayesh Shirodkar of Goa Forward, Dilip Parulekar of the BJP and Pradeep Padgaonkar of AAP.
“Saligao being a major contributor to Goa football does not have proper sports facilities, the current ground had been neglected for long but now with the elections approaching, some work has started. The people of Saligao do not require an MLA, who only starts work before elections,” said Brian Nazareth, another local.
Locals said development does not mean only roads but better eco-friendly industrial hubs which will create employment for the villagers and lead to the all round development of the village.
“The youth have to travel to Mapusa and Panjim for higher education. There should be some educational institutes in Saligao where students from surrounding areas can also be catered to,” said Viresh Naik, another local.
Parulekar had a 10-yearlong innings, who was elected after defeating former chief minister Wilfred de Souza in 2007 polls. De Souza was elected on his own Goa Rajiv Congress Party and in 2002 he was elected on the NCP ticket. In 2007, Parulekar was a giant killer taking 43 percent of the total vote share.
The people’s mood in Saligao is not pleasant regarding the overall development of the constituency, which is lacking despite MLA being a tourism minister in government.
“The major developmental work of the road from Porvorim to Saligao is pending for years. It has to be widened and improved. Many accidents have occurred each tourist season along this stretch”, informed Krishna Karbotkar, a local.
Another resident complained of narrow roads in Saligao. He said that the narrow roads in Saligao are a major problem as two-wheelers cannot pass at the same time.
The locals called for developing the lone Saligao spring as a major tourist spot.
Pilerne resident Cosme Fernandes said, “Some locals can earn their livelihood if the spring is developed as a tourist spot which will attract tourists.
