While Mr Digamber Kamat MLA Margao and Minister for Art and Culture in his new avtar now re-doning the Congress mantle after over 51 months in the BJP takes credit for the modernising the Ana Fonte Spring (see photograph) near the Bernardo Peres da Silva Club grounds at Margao scheduled to be inaugurated on 25th January 2006 by both the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister of Goa with cultural programmes planned until 26th January 2006 Republic Day, what has irked citizens of Margao and especially Aquem Alto is that the spring developed at Government cost at Tolsanzor Aquem (see picture)is is total neglect when this writer visited the area.
The area is now being used by migrants some who defeacate around the premises. The lamps are broken and water though flows perpetually is misused for washing anything and everything. None venture to sit around the long drawn steps and the benches which are dirty. In fact it was the ex Chief Minister of Goa Mr Manohar Parrikar who took credit for the development of this spring promising a series of springs to be developed all over Goa under the Department of Tourism. But the lackadaisical attitude of successive Governments towards the Merces spring (polluted by sewerage discharge from the Military Camp at Bambolim and the Curca spring (which is polluted due to the Garbage dump site does not augur well for the revival of these springs. It may be noted that if only the gift of nature to this tiny land Goa is preserved viz; its hills mountain range (Sahayadri range) the water falls springs lakes etc without much ado tourism can increase multifold and prosper the economy of the state specially in the hinterlands of Sattari Canacona and Sanguem. The Ana Fonte Spring which will be used essentially for children it is hoped will not follow the same fate of the Tolsanzor spring. There is yet another lake at Fatorda Opp the new Ravindra Bhavan which was on the cards for development but has suffered neglect. The Government of Goa has not been enthusiastic in framing a policy on preservation of all natural resources and there lies the problem. Yet another problem is that the procedures for maintainance are cumbersome. There is no allocation of funds for maintenance and the calling of tender procedures even to fit a latch results in the ill maintained structure. Mr Kamat should therefore address himself to this aspect and ensure that both the springs in Margao and the one planned for Fatorda is developed and maintained. >From the Ana Fonte/Tolsanzor end Godfrey J I Gonsalves Borda Margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] 9822158584 Photos: http://www.goanet.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=17&pos=0 http://www.goanet.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=17&pos=1
