The State government had constituted a task force forMapusa, in order to draw a comprehensive plan for the city.
Surprisingly, the task force has failed to meet even once,since it was constituted in July.
A 19 member task force was constituted on July 26, under thechairmanship of Urban Development Minister and local MLA, Francisco D’Souzaalong with other representatives of various walks of life, which includerepresentatives of communidade, NGPDA, architects, prominent citizens etc.
The task force is empowered to requisition the services ofother government authorities along with their implements and machinery to carryout the activities of the task force. All heads of government departments havebeen directed to cooperate and provide all technical assistance to the taskforce. The task force is supposed to consider on modalities to build a KalaMandir for Bardez, new roads, footpaths, and gardens.
Chairperson of Mapusa Muncipal Council, Sudhir Kandolkar whois one of the members of the task force said: “After the constitution of thetask force, a grievances meeting was held at Mapusa which was called to seeksuggestions for the development of Mapusa. We even had a special council meetingto chalk a plan of action for the city.”
According to Kandolkar although the task force will mainlylook into expansion of market area, focus will also be laid on building publicroads, open space, parking, warehouse, Jogger’s Park, Ravindra Bhawan, schoolplayground and shifting of petrol pumps.
“We are planning to meet Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar onOctober 3 to update him on the status of the work of task force,” Kandolkarsaid.
While ArchitectAshwini Kumar Prabhu, who is also member of task force and who had assisted asimilar committee previously disclosed that no meetings have taken place sofar. “Seven years back when a report was made by a previous committee the focuswas to decongest the city and beautification. But now it appears the focus haschanged,”Prabhu said.
Ratnapal Salkar, convener, Mapusa Citizens Forum said thatthe task force should have experts like architects, engineers, social workersetc. “This task force is just an eye wash. Planning for Mapusa should be donein three stages “ short, medium and long term. We need to first resolveimmediate issues,” Salkar said.
