PORVORIM
Nine months after it was inaugurated amid much fanfare, the new market complex near Hanuman temple at Porvorim still lies idle and is yet to be put to use.
The Penha de Franca panchayat and the Goa Housing Board (GHB) have now pointed fingers at each other over the prolonged delay in utilising the new market complex.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had inaugurated the new market complex amid much fanfare on August 16, 2021. Then GHB Chairman Subhash Shirodkar announced during the inaugural function that the online process to auction shops and offices in the new market would begin from September 15 and would be completed by September 30, 2021.
However, the GHB is yet to auction the shops and offices at the new market complex.
When contacted, the senior GHB officials mentioned that the Penha de Franca panchayat has not issued the market complex an occupancy certificate as yet and as a result, they are unable to get water and electricity connections for the shops and offices.
However, sources at Penha de Franca panchayat said the GHB has neither made the required payment to them nor has finalised the allotment policy and hence, the occupancy certificate has not been issued to them.
Speaking to The Goan, shopkeepers at the old Housing Board Market, which is now on the verge of collapse, mentioned under the condition of anonymity that they had eagerly hoped to shift to the new market complex before the monsoon.
“But going by the state of affairs, it appears we will have to wait till the next monsoon to shift into the new market,” said a shopkeeper.
When contacted, GHB Chairperson Jit Arolkar said he had given priority to the new market complex at Porvorim as soon as he took over charge of the GHB.
“I have directed GHB officials to immediately release payment to the Penha de Franca panchayat and I have also requested the panchayat to release the Occupancy Certificate to enable the GHB obtain electricity and water connections, to enable GHB to go ahead with the sale of shops and offices.”
“I do not want to go into the past and I am interested in making the new market functional as soon as possible,” said Arolkar.
The Penha de Franca panchayat and the Goa Housing Board (GHB) have now pointed fingers at each other over the prolonged delay in utilising the new market complex.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had inaugurated the new market complex amid much fanfare on August 16, 2021. Then GHB Chairman Subhash Shirodkar announced during the inaugural function that the online process to auction shops and offices in the new market would begin from September 15 and would be completed by September 30, 2021.
However, the GHB is yet to auction the shops and offices at the new market complex.
When contacted, the senior GHB officials mentioned that the Penha de Franca panchayat has not issued the market complex an occupancy certificate as yet and as a result, they are unable to get water and electricity connections for the shops and offices.
However, sources at Penha de Franca panchayat said the GHB has neither made the required payment to them nor has finalised the allotment policy and hence, the occupancy certificate has not been issued to them.
Speaking to The Goan, shopkeepers at the old Housing Board Market, which is now on the verge of collapse, mentioned under the condition of anonymity that they had eagerly hoped to shift to the new market complex before the monsoon.
“But going by the state of affairs, it appears we will have to wait till the next monsoon to shift into the new market,” said a shopkeeper.
When contacted, GHB Chairperson Jit Arolkar said he had given priority to the new market complex at Porvorim as soon as he took over charge of the GHB.
“I have directed GHB officials to immediately release payment to the Penha de Franca panchayat and I have also requested the panchayat to release the Occupancy Certificate to enable the GHB obtain electricity and water connections, to enable GHB to go ahead with the sale of shops and offices.”
“I do not want to go into the past and I am interested in making the new market functional as soon as possible,” said Arolkar.
