ONTO A FAST TRACK
Once a sleepy hollow, the face of Valpoi has changed beyond recognition
By Shameem I Shah
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----The Police training school in Valpoi
If Valpoi represents the picture of a typical sleepy, dreary, ‘yet to come of
age’ village in your mind’s eye, be forewarned – you are in for a big
surprise. The Valpoi one encounters today is a village that one would think
twice before calling it so. Long forgotten are the days when a passing vehicle
was a cause of chatter and electricity an unheard of phenomenon. As a senior
inhabitant of the place reminisces, "Lanterns were the order of the day till
the ‘70’s. Only one diya adorned the centre of the village market after sunset
everyday. Sources of water were either the flowing streams or wells as taps
were unknown."
But Valpoi today has not only equipped itself with the basic necessities but
has gone a step further. Counted among the more advanced villages of Goa, it
has an impressive infrastructure and a line-up of government and private
establishments to boast of.
The
Dabhos water plant ---- >
Valpoi gets its name from the two words Val (river) and Pai (the other side).
Since it has a stream flowing on one side, the name originated from there.
Stretched over an area of 11.72 kilometres, it has 1205 households according
to the 1991 census. Valpoi which is to the north of Goa falls under the
jurisdiction of the Sattari Taluka. Broadly divided into four small hamlets
namely Valpoi town, Nanus, Massordem and Valuz, it is a good 52 Kms from
Panaji city which may sound distant, but worth the tiring journey as you
discover the fast developing Valpoi.
Lending
importance to Valpoi is the Goa’s Police Training Service (PTS) Centre
situated here. A military camp during the erstwhile Portuguese regime, it was
transformed into a Police Training School in 1962. Situated on a picturesque
hillock and spread over a sprawling 3000 square metres, it is equipped with
the basic infrastructure which includes a classroom, library and gymnasium.
With a student capacity of 100 recruits per batch receiving basic training
courses, refresher courses or other such courses, the PTS commands respect in
Valpoi.
If the PTS provides strategic importance to Valpoi, the Forest Training School
in the Valpoi range area gives it the unique distinction of being the only
school in Goa catering to the ever growing demands of forest guards in Goa,
Daman and Diu.
Nanus
Fort said to be one of Shivaji's numerous forts ---- >
Founded in 1981, this school trains forest guards to safeguard the rich
natural resources of Goa’s forests and keep in check the ever growing menace
of animal poaching. Offering specialised courses in this direction with
subjects ranging from botany, gardening, silviculture, soil conservation to
forest codes and laws and practical training in booking offences against law
breakers, the school equips the recruits with an all-round knowledge of the
forest scene. Registered under the Deputy Concern of Forest Research and
Utilisation Division (Margao), it is a school of its kind.
But there’s more. The Dabhos Water Plant provides further proof of the
tremendous development the village has undergone. Set up in 1992, this
gargantuan water plant supplies purified water to the entire Sattari Area.
Stretched over 1000 sq metres of land, this project is one big step by the
government towards public welfare.
Now that Valpoi has begun to receive government attention (which is an
achievement in itself), one cannot undermine the role of the private sector in
making the Valpoi of today. The case in point here is Phil Corporation which
has its only food processing factory at Maushi Road. The three-acre land where
an old cashew factory stood till 1996 was converted into this state-of-the-art
food processing unit.
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-----The Veluz Nagargaon Bridge an important link
Today under the popular brand name of Country Club, dry fruits like peanuts,
almonds, pistachios and mixed fruits are processed for countrywide marketing.
Not deviating from the subject of nuts, it is almost impossible to ignore
Goa’s cashewnuts and Valpoi has two cashew nut processing factories, the major
one being the Kamat cashew factory at Massordem which employs a number of
Valpoi inhabitants.
In addition to these commercial activities, agriculture too is practised on a
large scale in Valpoi, though it is restricted to Nanus, Massordem and Veluz.
It is almost negligible in Valpoi town which is more commercial in nature.
Major crops grown are oil palms, coconuts, cereals and banana plantations.
It is interesting to note that Valpoi is developing pretty fast in the sports
field. There is a registered sports outfit called the Diamond Sports Club.
There is a lot of football and cricket activity in Valpoi and several
inter-village competitions are regularly organised. Other sports contests like
cycle racing and running races are also held. The Club also has a gymkhana.
For the more adventurous type (those who can evade the watchful eyes of the
forest guards), Rede Ghati is one of the favourite hunting spots. Wild boars,
deers, rabbits and other such animals are easy prey to those who enjoy game.
And for others, the weekly market, a unique feature of all Goan villages,
offers a source of entertainment. Valpoi has its weekly market on Tuesdays,
popularly known as the Mangal Bazaar. The market which resembles a fair on
this day is eagerly awaited as all sorts of wares are on sale and people
purchase their entire week’s supplies on this one day.
Situated in the market is the municipality building. Valpoi which had a
Panchayat since 1976 was promoted to a municipality in 1989. The Block
Development division of Valpoi which caters to the entire Sattari taluka is
situated here. The recently set up fire fighting force is welcome as forest
fires aren’t allowed to spread while awaiting the fire tender from Bicholim or
Mapusa or Panjim.
If Valpoi has developed speedily, credit should be given to the education
set-up here. There are than 15 schools here, – both government and private and
the instruction is offered in different mediums including English, Urdu, and
Marathi.
Surprisingly the people of Valpoi are believed to be highly religious and
God-fearing too. The populace mainly consists of Hindus and Muslims who join
in each other’s festivities with equal vigour. There are four temples here,
the oldest being the Maruti temple. The Sarvajanik Ganeshotsava festivities
lasting 11 days is eagerly awaited by all Valpoikars. Kirtans, bhajans and
religious dramas are held with enthusiasm. Ramanavami and Holi are also
celebrated with gaiety.
During Holi, a ritual called Ghode Mandi is practised every year. On the first
day two men disguised as horses dance around the temples the whole day. On the
following day, they visit every house in the village and are warmly welcomed
and worshipped. Nobody knows the origin or its significance but that hasn’t
dampened their spirits as year after year its popularity grows by leaps and
bounds.
Muslims, likewise, celebrate Idd with equal fervour. There are five mosques in
the village which are gaily decorated at festival time. The most interesting
aspect of the people here, as mentioned earlier, is their incredible tolerance
and love towards one another irrespective of the communities, caste or class
they belong to.
Despite speeding on the progressive track, Valpoi has not lost any of its
original charm. It still abounds with flora and fauna. Small rivers like the
Madhai and the Valpoi Jhari with their clear waters make a pretty picture and
are ideal for calming your frenzied nerves by dipping into the water. For the
historically inclined, a walk down to the Nauns Mahadary is mandatory, where
the huge historical Nanus Fort still exists. Built in the 17th century, it was
said to be one of the numerous forts of Shivaji which was later conquered by
the Portuguese. All these past years have taken a toll of this historical fort
which once upon a time seemed to tell a thousand tales of the glorious past.
Today, it is no more than a dilapidated structure, yet its historical
significance cannot be ignored.
Another structure which promises to grab the visitor’s attention is the Veluz
Nagargaon Bridge built in 1932. However, lack of proper maintenance and the
heavy water pipes laid on the bridge have weakened it considerably. But again
as anything associated with the past arouses one’s interest, the bridge is
considered a tourist spot.
To succumb to the wilful charms of this commercially viable, yet historically
and asthetically arousing village called Valpoi, one definitely should take a
trip down to the place itself. Valpoi after all is a pot-pourri of the old and
the new, the ancient and the modern, the ritualistic and the progressive and
that’s called having the best of both the worlds. Valpoi has it.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Ashok Parob – Social Worker and ex-MLA of Valpoi Constituency and
ex-chairman of KTC.
Abdul Razak – Social worker and ex-councillor of Valpoi Municipality
Late Rahim Khan – Freedom Fighter
Late Anant Shriodkar – Freedom Fighter
Shable Pissurelekar – Freedom Fighter
Anant Teli – Sarpanch of Valpoi Panchayat for 14 years, presently
councillor of municipality.
Kamruddim Shaikh – Ex-President of Valpoi council and teacher at Our
Lady of Lourdes (Valpoi)
S K Desai – Ex Deputy Superitendent of Police. Also awarded CM’s medal
for meritorious service Narhari Tukaram Haldankar – MLA and treasurer Lions
Club of Khadki, Chairman of Swami Vivekanand Shikshan Samati Valpoi
Akhtari Ali Shah – Municipal Chairperson of VMC, ex Sec of United
Education Society,ex Vice President and Treasurer of Valpoi Jaycees