the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa government issued a notification on Tuesday declaring appointment of Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate as chairman of Greater Panaji Planning and Development Authority (GPPDA), St Andre constituency MLA Francis Silveira as chairman of North Goa PDA and Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias as chairman of Mormugao PDA.
However, Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’sa has not been appointed as chairman of any Planning and Development Authority yet.
Babush, Francis and Clafacio are 3 among the 10 MLAs who quit from the Congress to join the BJP earlier in July this year. Chandrakant Kavlekar, Isidore Fernandes, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Jennifer Monserrate, Antonio Fernandes, Nilkanth Halarnkar, and Wilfred D’Sa were the remaining 7 who made the move to the BJP, raising the ruling party’s strength from 17 to 27 MLAs.
The government has now rewarded some of the defected MLAs with the chairmanships of of planning authorities. Kavlekar, Filip Neri and Jennifer have already been given ministerial berths in the
government while Halarnkar has been made chairman of a corporation.
Sawant reassures Wilfred, supporters of SGPDA chair
MARGAO: As many an eyebrow was raised over the delay in constituting the SGPDA, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has reassured Nuvem panchayat body members that there’s no re-think on the decision to appoint Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa to head the planning body.
Even as the government on Tuesday issued an order constituting Greater Panjim PDA, NGPDA and MPDA, TCP Minister Babu Kavlekar tried to reassure that the SGPDA headed by Wilfred will be constituted later this week.
The CM’s reassurance came after Nuvem panchayat members along with the MLA called on Sawant on Tuesday with developmental proposals concerning the village.
After discussions, the members reportedly raised the issue of delay in constituting SGPDA, prompting Sawant to re-assure the delegation that the Nuvem MLA will head the South Goa Planning and Development Authority.
Making his intentions clear, Sawant is believed to have suggested that the government can issue an order appointing Wilfred as SGPDA Chairman sans the members.
The Goan had last week pointed out how difference of opinion on the induction of members suggested by Wilfred and BJP leadership has brought about a deadlock in the constitution of the SGPDA.
As reported by The Goan, the induction of members on the PDA has delayed the constitution of the PDA as the Nuvem MLA had suggested the names of three persons, while BJP leadership recommended another four names for induction on the planning body.
Sources said the Kavlekar and Wilfred discussed the matter with Sawant to resolve the stalemate as accommodating all three names suggested by Wilfred will mean that Kavlekar will have no option but to drop at least two names suggested by the BJP leadership.
Kavlekar, however, told The Goan on Tuesday that all issues have been resolved and the order constituting the SGPDA will be issued later this week.
Meanwhile, files pertaining to issuance of development permissions continue to remain pending at the SGDPA for want of a Chairman. With around 45-50 development permission files pending, the PDA administration is believed to have moved a note to the Chief Town Planner to bail out the PDA since the office cannot even make payments of contractors and clear other pending bills.
