GSUDA OFFICIALS IN THE DARK OVER TIMING OF EXERCISE AND WHEN REPORT WOULD BE READY
MARGAO
Hazard a guess on the status of the Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping of properties proposed to mop up revenue and plug leakages in the commercial capital? Has the government implemented the GIS mapping project at the Margao Municipal Council? And, are the recommendations, if any, made by the survey put into effect in the Municipal jurisdiction to enrich the coffers of the civic body?
Consider this for an answer. The government had in the monsoon session of the Assembly in August last year unveiled plans to appoint an agency to conduct GIS mapping of properties across the civic bodies in South Goa jurisdiction. The government had then given the assurance on the floor of the House after Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai contended that a GIS mapping report is gathering dust in the Margao Municipal Council for the last half a decade.
A year later, Margao Municipal taxation officials feigned ignorance over any GIS mapping survey underway in Margao. In fact, Accounts and Administrative Officer Abay Rane pointed out he has no idea of any agency roped in to conduct the survey for the Margao Municipal Council. “As far as I understand, the government had promised to undertake the GIS mapping survey through the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) for the municipal bodies. So far, the MMC has no information of a GIS Survey carried out in the city”, Rane added.
When The Goan called up a senior GSUDA official to shed light on the proposed GIS survey for Margao, he was quick to point out that GSUDA has shortlisted an agency to conduct the mapping in all the Municipal bodies in South Goa. “The agency is due to start the mapping work any time. It was supposed to start the exercise, beginning from the Mormugao Municipal Council before the project is undertaken in the rest of the civic bodies in South Goa”, the GSUDA official stated.
With the GIS mapping yet to take place over the last one year, officials in the know wonder when the exercise will actually start and when the report would be ready for implementation by the Margao civic body before revenue starts flowing based on the GIS mapping assessment. “So far one year has gone for the government to appoint the agency. That means precious revenue worth crores of rupees have not come into the MMC coffers. And, we have no idea how much time the agency will take to map the properties in the commercial capital”, the official added.
