MAPUSA
With finances coming under a stress due to the pandemic, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Friday decided to divert funds from 14th Finance Commission towards several projects in Mapusa town, including taking up basic work of the new bus stand.
The council has also decided to allow an increase in the number of vendors sitting in the municipal market from present 33% to 50%.
“Since the new bus stand is a long-standing project which is crucial for the town, we decided to divert Rs 3.27 crore funds from the 14th Finance Commission, which was allocated for construction of administrative block of the municipal council to be diverted for development of the new bus stand,” said MMC Chairperson Ryan Braganza.
As per the plans, the land development of the new bus stand will take care of paving, toilets, shade, illumination and hot-mixing of roads.
Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza came up with the proposal to take up work of the new bus stand, as Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) which was to take up the work has decided not to take up any works until March 2021 due to lack of funds.
Interestingly, GSIDC had floated tender inviting bids for construction of miscellaneous works on the new bus stand site at an estimated cost of Rs 2.96 crore in mid-February this year.
The total area of the new bus stand is around 20,000 sq mtrs, but GSIDC was supposed to take up work on an area of around 10,000 sq mtrs.
The lockdown in March and the subsequent rise in Covid cases put paid to the plans.
The proposal to divert the funds for the new bus stand was stoutly opposed by former chairperson and senior councillor, Sudhir Kandolkar in the council meeting.
Kandolkar said the civic body had no proper hall and there was no room to store the municipality records and therefore, construction of the administrative block was equally important, if not more important.
Councillor Tushar Tople said the new bus stand was a dream project and therefore, appealed to all colleagues that the funds be diverted for construction of the basic facility at the new bus stand site.Finally, the council resolved to construct the bus stand, provided the transport department gives an undertaking to the civic body allowing the old bus stand site for parking.
In another major decision, the council has decided to divert Rs 90 lakh from the 14th Finance Commission for construction of beef and pork stalls in the municipal market.Earlier, the stalls were supposed to be constructed through the municipal funds but the chairperson put the blame on the financial crunch.
The council also decided to purchase 2,500 RCC slabs and go for installation of rooftop solar panels for the vegetable and fish market through the 14th Finance Commission.The chairperson informed that during unlocking of the lockdown, the council had decided to allow 33% of vendors to start business in the market.He said since the government has opened most of the activities, the council was of the view that 50% of vendors should be allowed in the market.
MMC to give extension to AO, staff oppose decision
MAPUSA: The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) on Friday resolved to give a six-month extension to the Administrative Officer Bhanudas Naik, who is retiring this month.
“Since the department of urban development has no option to replace him, the council has decided to give him a six-month extension,” said MMC Chairperson Ryan Braganza.
He said the decision will be subject to government approval.Incidentally, the All Goa Municipal Employees Association has objected to giving extension to any staff in general.“We have opposed extension to any officers as it hampers promotion of other staff in the line. It is not only concerned in Mapusa but all over Goa,” said Keshav Prabhu, President of the Municipal Employees Association.
Interestingly, the majority of the municipal staff in Mapusa has also opposed the extension of the AO.
