PANAJI
Controversial proposals such as foodcarts outside the ESG lane and floating of Expression of Interest (EoI) for the multilevel pay-parking building were opposed by opposition councillors and even some ruling councillors at the meeting of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).Seven councillors opposed the proposals and they included ruling councillors Kabir Makhija and Vasant Agashikar.
The councillors alleged that the plan would create further traffic jams in the areas, which are already congested.
Congress leader and CCP Councillor Joel Andrade strongly objected to the proposed food truck zone opposite ESG on the promenade during the CCP meeting on Tuesday.
“The food cart zone in this area will increase chaos and create massive traffic jams. I also advise the CCP to look at the high court order in this case before putting forward this rectified proposal,” said Andrade.
Agashikar also raised objection to the CCP’s move to float an Expression of Interest (EoI) for the multilevel pay-parking building.
“How can CCP float an EoI when the land does not belong to the CCP,” asked Agashikar.
Meanwhile, Andrade hit out at CCP Municipal Engineer (ME) Vivek Parsekar for claiming he has no authority to give him labour and machinery for work in the city, especially during heavy rains.
“Our ME tells me that he has no authority to send labour and machinery to the ward. He then tells me to call the Commissioner. Our commissioner doesn’t pick up calls nor respond to messages. If what the ME says is true, I think we need to change the system. We need to empower him to solve the problems in the city at a rapid pace.”
The CCP meeting passed a resolution demanding action against the contractors and engineers responsible for the bad roads in the city.
The resolution demanded that all four contractors who were awarded road work in Panaji during the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah be banned for five years.
Moreover, a resolution also sought that criminal and vigilance action be initiated against the contractors and PWD engineer who certified the quality of roads.
