by Pradeep Padgaonkar
With just one spell of rain, Mapusa turns into a swimming pool. Waterlogging at every major junction flooded market lanes, garbage floating in the streets, and shops struggling to stay dry – this is the sad reality of one of North Goa’s most prominent towns.
And yet, you’ll often hear its MLA Joshua D’Souza dismiss criticism with the usual refrain: “We don’t want outsiders talking about Mapusa.”
Really? Because the state of Mapusa affects all Goans – not just a chosen few – and it certainly isn’t anyone’s personal fiefdom.
Joshua, now a two-time MLA, seems more focused on controlling the narrative than improving the ground reality.
Look around: the town’s roads are a patchwork disaster, traffic is a daily nightmare, the iconic Mapusa bus stand is in a state of limbo, and cleanliness is a joke.
Every monsoon exposes the hollowness of the promises, and the suffering of ordinary citizens is met with deflection, not action.
It’s almost as if Mapusa is preparing for an Olympic swimming trial, not the onset of monsoon.
Water enters markets and residential lanes like clockwork, yet nothing ever changes.
The drainage system is non-existent or choked, garbage collection is irregular, and civic amenities are collapsing under the weight of neglect.
After the water recedes, what remains is a thick layer of stench, plastic, and frustration.
And this isn’t a recent problem. Joshua’s father, the late Francis D’Souza, also ruled Mapusa for over two decades.
While he was respected for his accessibility, even his long tenure failed to address the town’s basic infrastructure woes. The same political legacy continues- minimum delivery, maximum attitude.
Mapusa deserves better. It is a historic trading town, a major hub for commerce and tourism, and a place where thousands live and work.
And yet, it receives treatment as though citizens should be grateful for pothole-ridden roads and half-baked projects. What happened to the plans for a modern bus stand? Or the promises of streamlined traffic and smart development? Every election sees tall promises and fancy plans. After that, it’s back to the status quo and shifting blame.
And no, criticism doesn’t come only from “outsiders.” It comes from frustrated residents, business owners, commuters, and even long-time supporters who are simply tired of the neglect.
Telling people not to speak about Mapusa is not just arrogant – it’s undemocratic. Public representatives are answerable to everyone, not just to their vote banks.
The people of Mapusa are not asking for miracles.
They are asking for clean streets, working drains, traffic solutions, and proper planning. These are basic responsibilities, not favours.
It’s time Joshua D’Souza wakes up from his slumber, listens to the people, and understands that loyalty is earned through work, not inherited through a surname.
Mapusa isn’t anyone’s “baapayhi property.”
It belongs to the people of Goa. And they have every right to question what is being done – or not being done – in their name.
