MARGAO
The Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) has missed yet another deadline to hand over the historic Lohia Maida to the Margao Municipal Council on Wednesday.
While Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) Gurudas Pilarnekar pointed out that the beautification work is nearing completion and will be soon handed over to the civic body, local NGOs have cried foul over the inordinate delay in completing the beautification, denying citizens to make use of the historic Maidan, symbolizing free speech and expression.
That’s not all. The Save Mhadei, Save Goa Front too has been anxiously waiting for the government’s agency to complete the beautification work and hand over the maidan to the Margao Municipal Council to pave way for the front to hold an awareness meeting on river Mhadei.
The March 15 missed deadline is the host of deadlines which GSUDA had failed to honour in the last two years. After the December 31, 2022 deadline had gone abegging after the agency had failed to cap the beautification works, the GSUDA has failed to honour the latest deadline set by Congress-turned-BJP Margao MLA Digambar Kamat last month.
The Goan had on Monday highlighted how the GSUDA had failed to honour the deadlines to complete the beautification work and how the delay in handing over the maidan to the MMC has made the Save Mhadei, Save Goa front to wait to hold the meeting at the Lohia Maidan.
Meanwhile, the Shadow Council for Margao has slammed the authorities for delaying the handing over of the Lohia Maidan to the MMC and allowing its use for public purpose.
"We see the inordinate delay in completion of the Lohia Maidan as a game plan to prevent public meetings and other protests from being held there. With several frauds and misdeeds various departments are indulging in, our representatives and the government are afraid that this sacred venue will once again vibrate with a new revolution against the government, and this is the sole reason why the Lohia Maidan completion and hand over is postponed again and again", asserted SCM Convener Savio Coutinho.
He further stated that it is beyond anybody's ability to understand what is delaying the handover, other then the evil design of those who fear public gatherings and protests against the ills of theirs.
“We have also received information that desperate attempts for restricting the use of the Lohia Maidan are being framed, which will prevent public protests and meetings against the government. Any such moves to enact such rules shall be seriously dealt with, Coutinho said.
The SCM gave a 15-day ultimatum for the handing over of the Lohia Maidan and allotment for public meetings etc., failure of which, it has warned that the citizens shall organize an Inauguration of the renovated Lohia Maidan.
