ROQUE DIAS | NT
Margao: Though the Fatorda constituency in South Goa has seen some development in the form of broad roads, traffic signals and good footpaths in two years from 2017 to 2019 when local legislator and Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai was the deputy chief minister in the late Manohar Parrikar government, he has, however, failed to resolve the sewerage network issue.
Fatorda is stinking with sewage overflowing from chambers and running into paddy fields. The legislator has also failed to provide a good marketing avenue to the farmers to sell their produce in the absence of which many farmers are compelled to squat on road shoulders near the Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) bus stand and on footpaths of Fatorda roads near the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.
Farmers said that they expected Sardesai, who held the town and country planning and agriculture portfolios when he was in the cabinet, to help them in reverting the agricultural land, which was acquired by the government nearly two decades ago for a truck terminus at Maddel and left unused. However, on the outline development plan (ODP), Sardesai showed half of the land as kept for technical hub, while leaving the second half as it is even though some stubborn farmers have continued cultivating that part of the land.
Proposals for community farming aimed at Fatorda farmers have also failed to get clearance. When this reporter toured the constituency areas to feel the pulse of the voters with regard to the promises made by their legislator, many responded negatively. They said Sardesai missed a good opportunity of resolving the issue of Sonsoddo, Kabrastan and the construction of new KTC bus stand when he was in power. They said attempts were made by the legislator but he failed in solving the problems. The youth of Fatorda are also upset over the issue of unemployment.
Sardesai has been serving the Fatorda constituency as legislator for the last ten years with eight years in the Opposition and two years in power. Damodar ‘Damu’ Naik of the Bharatiya Janata Party was the Fatorda MLA for a decade from 2002 to 2012. Prior to that, Alex Luis Cardozo served the constituency for 15 years as Congress legislator. Some voters said, “Damu Naik also missed the opportunity to resolve the issues of Sonsoddo and Kabrastan when his party was in power in the state.”
The nearly five-year-old move of Sardesai of joining the Parrikar’s BJP-led government after contesting against the party during the 2017 assembly election is still fresh in the minds of many Fatorda residents. Moreover, the ‘formalin in fish’ issue of 2018 has also not been forgotten by people and these issues could very well affect people’s thoughts when they vote during the upcoming assembly elections, scheduled to be held early next year. The political turf of Fatorda will see many players throwing a challenge to the sitting legislator this time.
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