MARGAO
A Geographical Information Survey (GIS) conducted by a private agency for the Margao Municipal Council way back in 2017 had projected a huge revenue potential for the civic body, running into the crores of rupees.
Sadly, the survey report has been confined to the dusty record books of the civic body for the last six years for reasons best known to the successive council administrations since 2017.
The MMC headed by then chairperson Babita Angle had roped in a private agency to conduct the GIS survey in the lone municipal ward having jurisdiction over the heart of the commercial capital. While the GIS survey projected huge revenue potential running into crores of rupees in just one ward, the report was never implemented by the civic body.
Incidentally, the GIS survey report had done a disappearing act from the civic body over the last five years. The report, however, resurfaced last year after the Taxation section faced the heat over the report going missing.
When contacted, MMC Chief Officer Gaurish Sankwalkar said the GIS report could not be implemented after the government and the Urban Development Department announced plans to conduct a fresh GIS survey for the urban bodies in South Goa.
“Since the proposal was discussed in the last Assembly session with an announcement that the government would tender the GIS survey. Hence, it was decided by the civic body to wait for the new GSI survey report to initiate action,” Sankhwalkar informed.
