http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=031014
Flooding, incomplete Mala lake, market complex priorities Umesh Mahambre Panaji March 9: Fate of the controversial Mala Lake, completion of the long pending PDA market at Mala, flooding of water, lack of toilet facilities in the low lying areas are some of the issues that are being raised by the voters from ward numbers 16 to 20. These wards cover an area behind the St Inez Ganesh temple to Mala via Bhatlem and Chincholem. The rival panels, Panaji Development Front (PDF) and the Panel for Progress (PFP) have fielded their candidates in all the wards. Ward number 16 consists of 1445 votes and the main fight is expected to be between Mr Tony Rodrigues (PDF) and Mr Santosh Kunkolienkar (PFP). There are two other candidate Mr Motos Sequeira Jose Francisco and Mr Sheikh Bapusab Shaukat. A former councillor, Mr Rodrigues had to lose his position after Taleigao was deleted from the CCP. His priority is to repair roads, keep the ward clean and complete the drainage. Besides, he said that he would stop the garbage segregation work being going on in the animal shed. Mr Kunkolienkar is in the fray to fight corruption and illegalities that are on in Taleigao. He said that Taleigao will be the only place in the state to complete roads without the land acquisition process being completed. "I am a victim and my 300 mts land was used for road and recently I have received a letter from the government for acquisition of my land for the road, which had been already completed'. Ward number 17 will witness a four-cornered fight between Mr Udai Madkaikar (PDF), Mr Sameer Chari (PFP), Mr Rupesh Naik, and Mr Ratinakar Phaterpekar. A former councillor, Mr Madkaikar is re-contesting. He said that inspite of severe opposition from land owners he had managed to provide 180 Sulabh Shouchalaya. As against this, the PFP candidate, Mr Chari plans to clean up the drainage and undertake road repair works. He alleged that the CCP has neglected the St Inez-Bhatlem road and the previous councillor had not even raise any voice about it. Ward 18 consists of 915 voters and three women candidates are in the fray, which include Ms Uma Naik (PDF), Ms Salomi Pawar (PFP) and an independent, Ms Aparna Naik. Ms Uma said that the major problems highlighted by the voters was the lack of sewage connections to houses on the slopes. As against this Ms Pawar said she would take up drain repari, street lighting, cleaning of gutters. Ward 19 consisting of 985 votes will witness a straight fight between Mr Narashiva Morajkar (PDF) and Mr Da Cruz Menino Jesus (PFP). The Mala lake project falls in this wards and Mr Morajkar said his priority would be to get the project completed, remove the water clogging to avoid flooding of Mala, and get the PDA's Mala market project completed. Mr Da Cruz said priorities would be get the sluice gate repaired to avoid flooding, complete the lake and market projects. Ward number 20 consists of 1004 votes and there will be straight fight between Mr Krishna Shirodkar (PDF) and Mr Pravin Sopte. For Mr Shirodkar the repair of the sluice gate to avoid flooding of mala during the monsoon are priorities. Besides he said that he was in favour of completion of the Mala Lake project. As against this Mr Sopte says that the project was undertaken by the Parrikar government and that he would work to complete the project. Besides, he said that he would work for the promotion of the Mala fountain as a tourist spot on lines of Boca da Vaca fountain. -- TUMCHER AXIRVAD ASSUM; DEV BOREM KORUM. Gabe Menezes. London, England