Fondekars are lucky to have a social organisation of their OWN. People Of Ponda (POP) was formed in 2012. It comprises people from different walks of life. The group aims at creating awareness in civic issues. It also facilitates the people of Ponda as it acts as a bridge between several organisations and bureaucrats and the people to get them their facilities.
The POP joint secretary Pramodh Sawanth said, “POP has 140 registered members and they take up cases during their Tuesday meet. They either hear out the grievances or accept the same in writing from the people. When it rains, the meetings are held at Vaishya Seva Sangh hall, at Kurtartar Commercial Arcade Ponda. Otherwise, the meetings are held in the open space behind Canara Bank.
POP is headed by Dr Rajendra Dev. Dr Ragunandan Mysur is its secretary, Pramodh Sawant is the joint secretary.
Speaking to Herald, Sawant said, “our aim is not only to address issues but also to suggest solutions to government authorities, RTOs, PMC so as to help them in arriving at solutions. Soon after POP was formed, the garbage issue was taken up with an aim to provide a clean and healthy environment by involving POP members, public representatives and locals. To create garbage disposal awareness, we collected the wastes every Sunday between 7 and 9 pm. We continued the same for 7 months and implemented the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in which garbage was collected and disposed off at various places in the city and neigbouring Curti Panchayat. Following our campaign on the traffic chaos and congestion in Ponda, the concerned authorities put up signages and allotted designated parking slots and painted Zebra crossings.
“During our garbage cleanup drive, we involved various schoolstudents. Recently, we undertook Green Ponda mission to plant trees at the Sports Complex ground as well as at various schools before the monsoon set in. At the Sports Complex, we planted around 100 saplings out of which 97 have survived. Collectively, around 300 trees were planted at schools and city areas. We recently organised a programme on Right To Information to guide public on its use for constructive and development purpose to solve their problems.”
Sawant goes to say that among several other issues, currently the area is dogged by traffic snarls. Besides this, Ponda Market has a huge parking problem.
“We have set a target deadline to accomplish this task. We are trying to open the basement parking at Ponda Market Complex for the public. We have sought the initiative of the Ponda Municipal Council. Hundreds of vehicles could be parked if this parking facility is made available to public. This project has become a white elephant and since inauguration, four years ago, it is not in use, there is no maintenance, and neither the parking facility is also utilized. We want this project to be used and operational for public purpose by leasing out the shops on first, second and third floor. Further there is need of ramp for the project,” said Sawant.
