the goan I network
MARGAO
Blame it on the GST tangle, red tape or simply the absence of will on the part of the City Fathers, Margao Municipal Council’s ambitious project “ multi-level parking project, which had been initiated by the civic body in 2015 has failed to take off till date.
It’s been exactly three years on Saturday when the foundation stone for the multi-level parking project was laid by the civic body exactly on this day during the tenure of then MMC chairperson Arthur D’Silva after the then Council had resolved to utilise the golden jubilee grant of Rs 3 crore to create a parking facility in the commercial capital.
For one year now, the civic body had been caught in the GST web after the bidder for the project claimed payment of GST on grounds that the project was tendered around the same time when GST was introduced last year.
Over last one year, the Council had been trying to resolve the GST issue with the contractor, but in vain. It was only recently that the TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, who had visited the civic body has given the contractor a chance to execute the project on grounds the project is completed and inaugurated on Goa Statehood Day in May next year.
In the meanwhile, the Shadow Council of Margao has wished the Margao Municipal Council another year ahead to fool the Madgaonkars. “This Council which incidentally is also nearing completion of three years has hardly shown any significant development in Margao. With the exception of being caught up in various types of scams, the Margao Municipal Council has failed on all fronts,” asserted convenor Savio Coutinho.
Referring to the statements made by MMC Chairperson Dr Babita Angle who always rues about problems being inherited by this Council, Coutinho said the Shadow Council demands a justifiable explanation as to why they could not commence this inherited multi-level parking project even after three years.
“The GST excuse cannot be accepted as it came into effect after two years from the formation of the new Council,” Savio said, while demanding an apology from the Council for its failure to commence the work of the multi-level parking complex, leave aside its completion.
While sounding a word of caution, Savio said, “We will be keeping a watch on the matter and any form of back door compromise.”
