Post election, Bharati means business by GERARD D’SOUZA
------------------- Bharati Heble is the new corporator representing Panaji’s Ward 13. A no frills woman, she triumphed at the CCP elections sans any bigwig backing. She is all out to straighten out illegalities PANJIM: Representing the Corporation of the city of Panaji’s ward No 13 has never been easy. The stinking St Inez nullah, slums, bad roads, violations of open spaces are all part and parcel of this ward. And current sitting corporator Bharati seems to have begun well. Bharati Heble, the daughter of legendary poet Bakibab Borkar and former High School teacher trounced Babush backed Mangala Karapurkar, and an independent candidate, Seema Pednekar to win for the first time, in this women’s reserved ward. Within the first three months of being elected, she has written to the CCP Mayor asking him to address the issue of illegal constructions in open spaces. Heble had sent a letter to Yatin Parekh, mayor, Corporation of the City of Panaji ( CCP), raising the issue of illegal structures in open space opposite Sameer apartments, near hotel Ameya, Sta. Inez and conversion of the open space into a volleyball court, based on the complaints from the residents of this locality. “ I have raised issues of illegal constructions in my ward. Some hutments were built in an open space which serves as a gardencum- recreational area for residents of the locality. I filed complaints not only with the CCP but also with other government authorities like the Urban Health, North Goa Collector, etc. Through persistent efforts and issuing some stern warnings, the illegal hutments were demolished,” Heble said. She has said that it is her love for the city that has kept her going. “ I have lived in this city for more than four decades and love it dearly. Panjim was once a very beautiful city, an enterprising and colourful tourist destination having its own heritage charm. But sadly, the city’s condition and shape as of today stands deteriorated” she said. Speaking on her achievements till date, Heble has said that a lot has been done and a lot more needs to be done. “ The internal roads in my ward were in a very bad state, and full of potholes. We got the road works amounting to around Rs40 lakh sanctioned and built. Opposite the Church, there was a heritage cross and the CCP were using this area to store garbage bins. I raised my voice and got them shifted. A pedestrian road crossing with speed breakers on either side near the St Inez Church entrance has been another major demand of the ward residents. Crossing the road to visit the church is extremely arduous for those who live in my ward. I moved a resolution for constructing speed breakers and got it passed in the CCP Council meeting. The actual construction of the speed breakers may take a couple of months more, as the file has to move to the office of the North Goa Collector for notification and then the process of tendering will commence,” Heble said. Besides, she has also conducted tree plantation drives in the ward and has raised issues like traffic congestion and chaos on the roads, particularly near the Caculo Mall, Sharada Mandir School during afternoon hours. The ward comprises of a part area along the Dayanand Bandodkar Road, and part of St Inez area. Like few other wards, this ward is also a mixed bag of voters; rich and poor. The filth and stench of the nearby St Inez nullah renders the air. The ward also has a number of colonies including Tamba Colony, Navketan Colony, Greenland Colony, Madhuban, Par.aat and so on. Incidentally, this area includes city’s only traffic signals, which were supposed to work on solar energy but subsequently got damaged. However, for Bharati the journey has just begun. “ The first few months were more of a learning exercise for me, as I was getting used to the system of governance. In the next few months, my priority will be to build a Balwadi School for the children of St Inez, a footbridge, footpaths with proper illumination, construction of water drains, construction of toilets for some houses, providing additional streetlights, etc. I will also raise other issues plaguing the city from time to time,” she said. Source: http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=1354&boxid=4322846&uid=&dat=9%2f1%2f2011