MARGAO
Cuncolkars have voiced their strong opposition to plans by a section of Cuncolim Municipal Council councillors to rush with the inauguration of the commercial complex building before their current term ends on November 4 when the project is not ready for occupation in all respects.
Local MLA Clafacio Dias has also joined the people, saying he is not in favour of the inauguration of the commercial complex before completion of the project.
Cuncolim Municipal Council Chairperson Succorina Coutinho has also said that work on the project should be ready in all respects before the complex is finally inaugurated.
While officials pointed out that around 95 percent of the work on the commercial complex is now completed, the contractor has told the MLA during a joint inspection that he will require time till November 10 to complete the balance work.
The Cuncolim MLA had fixed the joint inspection of the commercial complex along with CMC Chairperson, GSUDA officials and the contractor to take stock of the situation as people had raised their strong reservations over the planned inauguration of the complex before the tenure of the current body ends on November 4.
After the inspection, MLA Clafacio conceded that work on the project is not complete in all respects, saying even the contractor has made it clear that he may require around 10 more days to complete work on the project.
Saying that the contractor cannot be blamed for the delay in the completion of the project since the state was hit by rains, Clafacio said he will discuss the matter with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and also call on the Director of Municipal Administration Dr Tariq Thomas to discuss the matter.
“There ought to be no haste in inaugurating the project without completing the work in all respects. I am not in favour of inauguration without completion of the work,” he said.
The MLA further said that the project may require additional funds for its completion, saying he would discuss the issue of funds with the Chief Minister and the DMA. “We will come to know of the position of the project within 2-3 days,” Clafacio added.
CMC Chairperson Succorina Coutinho told the media that people are opposed to any inauguration of the project in haste. “Work on the project remains incomplete,” she said, while demanding to know how the project could be inaugurated without completing the work in all respects.
The CMC Chairperson has warned that people would soon apply for occupancy to occupy the building in the event the project is inaugurated without completion.
Local people demanded to know why the CMC councillors are in a hurry to inaugurate the project without completing the work. While stressing on safety aspects, it was pointed out that the fire hydrants tanks are not in place to date, while questioning the haste with which the project is sought to be inaugurated.
Around Rs 11 crore has been spent on the commercial complex project, and it may require additional Rs three crore to complete it in all respects, sources added.
