Undoubtedly, the solution to garbage menace, parking woes, beautification of St Inez creek and shifting of offshore casinos from River Mandovi, are the top most demands of Panjimites before their candidates, contesting the Panjim constituency by-election on February 13. But, there is something else these voters demand and that is — amendment to the existing Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Act or revert the corporation to Panjim Municipal Council, giving it much needed powers for the betterment of the city.
These demands were accorded during the special discussion on ‘Battle for Panjim’, a joint initiative by HCN and NGO -Goa for Giving, giving an opportunity to the voters to come on one single platform to raise their voice against the various failed promises or assurances of the local MLA or successive government. The discussion, held at Gonsalves Mansion, along the bank of St Inez creek saw large participation of some prominent people from the city. The panelists include-former BJP Mayor Ashok Naik, present deputy Mayor Kabir Makhija Pinto and Union leader Ajitsingh Rane.
The discussion, which began with different issues haunting the capital city that needs immediate and serious attention of the government, concluded with the fact that the MLA, Mayor and CCP Commissioner, all have to be one plane, to carry out development of the city. The discussion threw light on the very fact that since the former Chief Minister and MLA -Manohar Parrikar and Mayor Surendra Furtado were not from the same political outfit, ego clashes, left the city underdeveloped. There was also lack of willingness amongst the political class to clean up the city, and develop it as a world class city, despite it being the capital city of the State.
The one-hour long discussion also slammed CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues for his petty politics.
Panelist Ashok Naik, first CCP Mayor, pointed to the fact that for the past 10 years, the successive governments and local MLA failed to give priority to the city. Be it garbage or parking or cleaning the St Inez creek, everything was neglected. “The local MLA and corporators ruined the city with their petty politics. It completely stands neglected till date,” he said.
Naik also admitted that with no powers in hand, the Mayor and corporators were helpless to get any work done in the city or in their respective wards. “All powers lie with Commissioner and we have to beg before him for everything,” he said, doing a reality check on the powers of the corporation.
Naik was supported by present deputy Mayor Kabir Makhija Pinto, who admitted that ego clashes between people who ruled the city have hampered city development. “There is need that people keep aside their ego and come on one table and discuss, but that never happened,” he said.
Makhija, who is part of Atanasio Monserrate ruling panel said, that the corporation has left with no powers, as all powers lie with the Commissioner.
Union leader Ajitsingh Rane, spoke on similar lines. “There is no willingness. The political leaders and corporators lack vision for development. Everyone – the MLA, Mayor and Commissioner, want to seek credit for development. There are ego clashes,” he reiterated.
The voters gathered there raised several issues including garbage, casino pollution, traffic mess, neglect of St Inez creek, flooding in low lying areas, bad road conditions, pathetic city market conditions, etc. These are some of the major issue that remained neglected for over a decade- despite the city being ruled by BJP MLA for past five tenures.
A prominent citizen and activist Anand Madgaonkar said that CCP, through a master plan, has got plans for resolving every issue like garbage, traffic and cleaning of St Inez creek but there is no implementation. He said that over Rs 100 crore were spent to draft the plan, which remained on paper. “The Mayor has got no power as per the CCP Act. And being a Mayor from the Opposition party, there is no support from local MLA and the government,” he said.
Armando Gonsalves, founder of Goa for Giving said, “The problem lies with the structure itself. There is a need to go back to the municipality or give more powers to the elected representatives – corporators. The St Inez creek is in a total mess. It can be a world class spot, if proper care is taken. It’s high time that people need to raise their voices.”
Col. Milind Prabhu, resident, brought to the notice, the illegalities and mismanagement of the city municipal market. “CCP is not getting any revenue. There is complete mismanagement of market complex. There is no control over the illegalities,” he said. He also slammed government for failing to take action against the offshore casino operators. He alleged that offshore casinos have polluted River Mandovi, as there are no plans in place to take care of their garbage, sewage discharge, etc. “These casinos need to be shifted out of River Mandovi,” Prabhu added.
Sudeep Dalvi, swam five times across River Mandovi protesting against offshore casinos, alleged that petty politics has polluted River Mandovi, considered as the ‘mother.’ “I want to ask this question to every politician –Do we shit on our mother? If not then why allow offshore casinos to pollute our mother? Time to get them out. The promise to shift them has to be fulfilled,” he demanded.
A youth, Siddesh, blamed successive governments for passing the bucks on casino issue from one to another. “Both the political parties, including the local MLA was responsible for bringing in casinos into the Mandovi. Now they cannot deny it. BJP will have to fulfill their promise (of taking out the casinos),” he said.
Another youth, Zico, brought some untouched issues into the limelight such as the garbage pilled along the Azad Maidan, flooding of low lying areas, lack of cooperation amongst the government departments while digging up roads and also blamed society for keeping mum on the issues. “One cannot always blame politicians for failing to fulfill their responsibilities. As a citizen, we need to answer how many responsibilities do we take up to keep our city clean? Today’s youth need to come forward and work,” he opined.
