UNDER THE SCANNER
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Smart moves in Ponda
[BOX]
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Projects in pipeline
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Signature Project under Golden Jubilee fund.
Theatre, food court, hall and a library.
Pilot project of LED street lights
Construction of underpass road.
Football stadium near municipality.
Multilevel parking and gymkhana building.
Commercial project on Shastri hall building.
Installation of CCTV cameras and ambulance service.
If funds flow and construction continues at even pace, Ponda could witness a slew of projects aimed at reducing parking problems and improving the quality of life in the next three years, writes SANJAY BORKAR
PONDA: It may not be a 'Smart City', at least for now, but Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) has planned “smart moves” to provide various facilities to residents of Ponda, before it completes a term in another three years.
While the signature project under the Golden Jubilee fund will provide a movie theatre, food court, hall and a library, the projects under GSUDA will cover sports projects like football stadium and a gymkhana building.
The PMC, which was awarded twice as the best civic body in the state for solid waste management, has almost sorted out its garbage problem.
PMC councilor Venkatesh Naik is believed to be the brain behind the project. Naik had himself introduced the organic waste converter machine and concept was later picked up by PMC.
PMC Chairperson Dr Radhika Naik has stated that the PMC has initiated several projects and she is hopeful of completing them within the next three years.
At present, they have no major project to take credit for, but that has not bothered the PMC as it is confident of having enough projects under its belt by the end of their term.
“Apart from the construction of commercial projects, PMC has decided to go ahead with an 'underpass road' of around 60 mtrs from St Anne Church to the cemetery, to facilitate religious processions and others, as part of the Goa State Urban Development Agency. This project is expected to be the first of its kind in Goa,” said Dr Naik.
“A football stadium in the plot adjacent to municipality will be in reality in another three years. A gymkhana building will also be housed there and it will encourage sportspersons from the city. Even the parking facility will add another facility in the 16,000 sq mtr land acquired under parking and recreation facility.”
“PMC is at present focusing on development work so that all people can have good facilities and we are also planning to build a multilevel parking and commercial project at the place adjacent to police station. We will appoint consultant for the project and will carry the work subsequently,” Dr Naik added.
Another commercial project planned by PMC will come up at the present Shastri hall building, which is in dilapidated condition. PMC has received approval from the Directorate of Municipal Administration and will demolish the old structure soon. The four-storyed building will house commercial shops and offices, thereby generating revenue to the PMC.
The PMC has also identified some open spaces to convert them into playgrounds. One such playground under the MPLAD scheme will be in the ward of councilor Vishwanath Dalvi.
To monitor activities in the city, the PMC has proposed CCTV cameras under the MPLAD scheme and it is under consideration. PMC has also a plan to beautify the Dada Vaidya Chowk.
“The PMC has started work of the signature project under the Golden Jubilee fund by discarding the earlier plan of a three-storeyed project. In the new plan, a new five-storeyed project will have facilities for a movie theatre, food court, hall and a library. The foundation stone of this building was laid last year and it is under construction,” said Dr Naik.
Besides planning to develop the city by constructing projects, PMC also aims to create employment.
In October 2013, the PMC had resolved to revive the Swarn Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana, which had stopped functioning a decade ago.
“The youth and the women of Ponda town will get self-employed through various courses designed under this scheme. Bakery, Mobile repairing, refrigerator, desktop publishing, nursing, beautician, are some of the courses designed under the scheme,” said the PMC chairperson.
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'Funds available for Ponda projects'
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Ponda Municipal Council chairperson Dr Radhika Naik, in an interview to The Goan said the council is making smart moves to change the face of city. Excerpts
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RN: I will not call it a “smart city”, but off course, we are planning “smart moves” to provide all the facilities to public.
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RN: We have several projects in pipeline and one of them is a signature project which will house a movie theatre, a food court, a hall and a library. We have other projects too like constructing football ground and gymkhana building.
Yes, we are planning to construct multilevel parking facility near the police station and also the parking facility will be available at football ground. It is the main problem which we are focusing to resolve.
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RN: We have funds from the 'Signature Project' given by government under Golden Jubilee Year celebration. The remaining projects will be done by GSUDA and some from MPLAD. There is no dearth of funds to make these projects a reality. So far, there have been no hurdles.
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RN: Yes. We had taken resolution in that regards and it is in the process.
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