Councillors claim migrant workers are using structure as makeshift shelter
Margao Municipal councillors on their feet as they try to make a point at the Council meeting on Friday.
MARGAO
The defunct bio-methanation plant installed at the SGPDA retailed market raised a stink at the Margao Municipal Council meeting on Friday with councillors claiming the structure is being converted into a makeshift accommodation by migrant workers.
At the Council meeting chaired by civic chief Damu Shirodkar, former Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar demanded to know the status of the bio-methanation plant at the SGDPA market. He said the plant was inaugurated by the civic body with much fanfare, but has been lying in a defunct state for over a year now.
When the chairperson admitted that the bio-methanation plant is not in operation, Ganashyam wondered why the plant is still lying in the market when it ought to have been dismantled by the civic body. “If the plant is not in operation, why has the civic body failed to dismantle the plant? The structure does not augur well in the market place. Moreover, migrant workers have converted the structure into a makeshift accommodation,” he charged.
Councillor Dr Sushanta Kurtarkar made a forceful demand with the chairperson to provide the list of gaddas proposed to be rehabilitated at the Old Margao bus stand.
When the chairperson pointed out that the bus stand has been taken up for renovation by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, Kurtarkar referred to reports doing the rounds in the market that the MMC has drawn up plans to accommodate a large number of kiosks at the old bus stand. “Kindly provide the list of gaddas proposed to be rehabilitated at the old Margao bus stand,” she demanded.
The civic chief said only those who are presently doing business at the old bus stand, besides the vendors from the hinterland talukas of South Goa would be accommodated at the old bus stand.
Meanwhile, the meeting witnessed uproar over the poor attendance of civic employees for the flag hoisting programme on State and national days such as Goa Liberation Day, Republic Day and Independence Day. After the uproar, Chairperson Shirodkar promised to work out a mechanism to ensure compulsory attendance of employees for the flag hoisting ceremony.
