The change in route for this year's Carnival generated considerable heat at the Margao Municipal Council meet held on Thursday, with councillors Rupesh Mahatme, Arthur D'Silva, Raju Shirodkar and Damodar Naik castigating the ruling council on this issue.
As soon as the issue mentioned in item no. 3 in the listed business to be transacted was mentioned at the meet, Mahatme and Shirodkar rose to their feet, objecting to the SP's letter, and the mention of Shigmotsav and Narkasur competition in the letter purportedly written by the SP (Police), extracts of which were quoted by MMC chairperson Dr Babita Angle Prabhudesai to reportedly justify the change of venue for the Carnival 2016 parade.
It may be recalled that the MMC chief had announced on Wednesday that the traditional float parade will roll down the street from the old market circle to Fatorda (Ravindra Bhavan) junction.The duo were supported by former MMC chairperson Arthur D'Silva who opened the debate on this matter, claiming that the Carnival parade is marked for Sunday, and questioned as to whether the police were incapable of handling the traffic situation.
He demanded that the traditional route of the Carnival parade be maintained, while Mahatme and Shirodkar strongly objected to the SP's letter, particularly at the mention of Shigmotsav and Narkasur competitions.
Mahatme warned that the Shigmotsav and Nakraksur competitions will be organised at the traditional venue.
“There is a malicious intent behind this move. Shigmo and Narkasur should not be shifted elsewhere. If this is done, then we will organise it here (at the traditional venue),” he warned, and was ably supported by D'Silva who emphasised that these competitions must be held in Margao.
While all 50 items listed on the agenda were transacted, the pivotal issues which witnessed discussion and debate among councillors at the meet included the decision to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Kranti Diwas on June 18, setting up of a food court at the parking space at Madel, and the application for setting up of Ground Based Masts (GBMs).
At the outset, the meet resolved to drop the proposal to request the State government to acquire the 'Dambab Tali' at Fatorda for development.
“If stakeholders do not want this proposal, then it will be dropped,” Dr Prabhudesai told the meet, while claiming that the Tali (lake) was in a dilapidated state and therefore in dire need of cleaning.
On the Goa Kranti Diwas issue, Mahatme was insistent that the celebrations be held annually and not just this year, while suspecting some sort of ploy to derive political mileage by holding the celebrations this year when Assembly elections are due to be held anytime before March next year. The meet expressed its resolve to hold the event every year, and making necessary budgetary provision for the same in accordance with Mahatme's suggestion.
The proposal for a food court, moved by Clara Fernandes, also generated some friction between her and vice-chairperson Dorris Texeria, when the latter demanded that even interested Margao citizens be allowed to set stalls, even as Fernandes hinted that Fatorda residents could be given priority. The chairperson accepted councillor Suchita Malkarnekar's suggestion to have a vendor's zone in every ward, provided the respective councillors identify space for the same.
The meet also decided to levy a fine of Rs 1 lakh per Ground Based Mast (GBM) and to collect one yearly rent in lumpsum to regularise such GBMs. Dr Prabhudesai also acceded to the suggestion to shift the GBMs within 300 metres in case of any objections for the same, citing a provision in this regard.
She claimed GBMs were granted single-window clearance by the central government, PWD and had received government permission as well.
“The local body (MMC) was only informed and no permission was sought from it (MMC). We can now regularise it after levying a hefty fine,” she remarked.
