0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 >From the Navelkars e-group [EMAIL PROTECTED] To visit Navelkars egroup on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/navelkars/ From: "Manuel Fernandes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Winds of urbanisation blowing towards Navelim Winds of urbanisation blowing towards Navelim N.Noronha MARGAO, AUG 16 - It's been growing at a pace, with even the planners regarding Navelim as Salcete's fastest growing village. Located on the souther side of the ever expanding Margao city, with the NH No. 17 cutting across the village, the winds of urbanisation has begun to silently blow over Navelim. Around a dozen residential and commercial complexes have sprung up in the central part of the village and along the highway. And, the village is bracing up to witness a building boom in the coming years. Sadly, like other towns, this once rural village is slowly feeling the pangs of urbanisation. For instance, disposal of solid waste has been a major worry for the local village panchayat, so much so, that this issue has been listed on the agenda of the gram sabha meeting. Traffic snarls are not uncommon in the heart of the village, especially during peak hours. Thousands of students float in and out of the area everyday, given the location of a college, a higher secondary school and two high schools in close proximity. Current trends do indicate that the population is set for a substantial leap due to ongoing migration. This is evident from the fact that people from rural Salcete prefer Navelim to neighbouring Margao, skyrocketing the land prices further as compared to neighbouring town. "Navelim is no longer a village. It's now a well thought out urbanised area", admitted local MLA, Luizinho Faleiro, representing the village since 1980. Says the six-time Navelim MLA: "I had been laying emphasis on infrastructure in the village since 1980. Now, the time has come to finalse a master plan for the village to meet the needs of future growth". He said that he is planning to formulate both short and long term plans for the village. On this count, he said that he has asked for inputs from all concerned to prepare these plans. Mr Faleiro, however, said that Navelim today boasts of good roads, recreational facilities, transport, playground etc. Asked to spell out the solution to the garbage problem, the former chief minister said "this matter need to be tackled from a wider perspective by identifying a common dumping ground. The State government has to give a priority". "A pedestrian sub-way should take care of the traffic snarls in the market", he said of the traffic situation. Town planner, James Mathew underlined the need for a zoning of the twin villages of Navelim and Telaulim. "The road network need to be further strengthened now to meet future needs. Emphasising the need to look at Navelim for a wider perspective, Mr Mathew said, "while planning the village, one should not forget Margao as only a railway line seperates the two areas". The town planner felt that both Navelim and Telaulim will witness further growth on its western side after the commissioning of the western bye-pass. "This bye-pass which cuts through these two villages will ensure developmental activity in these areas in the future", he remarked. As of now, there is no sewerage system worth mentioning in the village. However, both Mr Faleiro and Mr Mathew felt that the nearby sewerage treatment plant will take care of the situation. Mr Mathew further averred that adequate space for a bus-stand and a market need to be earmarked for any plan taking into acount the long term requirements of the village. Former Navelim sarpanch, Bishut Themudo, who is presently representing the village at the Zilla panchayat said that sewerage is not an immediate problem facing the village. He sounded a word of caution by saying that all should work together to find an urgent solution to the garbage disposal problem. According to the panchayat secretary, Subodh Prabhu, work of collection and disposal of garbage is entrusted to a contractor. When asked where the garbage is then dumped, Mr Prabhu said "That is for the contractor to handle since the panchayat pays him Rs 3000 to collect garbage bi-monthly". Last year, the panchayat had imposed garbage tax on business establishments but has been kept in abeyance till date. However, the panchayat takes affidavits from trade people that they will dispose off garbage at their own cost and labour at a safe place and in a hygeinic manner. How this affidavit will give relief to the village on solid waste management is anybody's guess. oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
