MARGAO
This question has come to the fore with the new body headed by Flory taking over the reigns of the panchayat body post-election. When The Goan called up the new sarpanch to shed light on the controversial market complex cum panchayat ghar project, she was categorical in saying that the panchayat will take steps to see that the project will take shape at the land acquired for the purpose. “The new body will take a decision on the project at the meeting,” Flory said.
A dream project of local Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues, work on which could not take off during the last five years during the tenure of then MLA Benjamin D’Silva over the adverse decision of the panchayat body, the locals keep their fingers crossed on the project, even as Filipe Neri exuded confidence of completing the project in the next five years. “I expect the new panchayat body to place the project at the panchayat meeting and adopt a resolution in favour of the project. This resolution along with a resolution adopted at the village gram sabha in favour of the project can then be forwarded to the State government for its execution,” Filipe Neri said.
“The market complex cum panchayat ghar had been my dream project, which sadly, could not see the light of day during the last five years for obvious reasons. With a new panchayat body in place at Chinchinim, I am confident that the project can now move forward in the days ahead,” Filipe Neri said.
Land for the twin projects was acquired adjoining the Chinchinim cemetery during the tenure of Filipe Neri with the avowed objective of constructing a spacious market complex cum panchayat ghar to ease traffic congestion along the main road.
Local observers say that this may perhaps be the first time in the last five years that the local MLA as well as the panchayat body favour the construction of the panchayat ghar cum market complex on the acquired land after a bitter half-a-decade row.
Incidentally, the project was supposed to be taken up by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) and what remains to be seen is how the government headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar reacts as and when the market complex cum panchayat ghar proposal is received from the panchayat body.
