Photo caption.
MLAs Digambar Kamat, Vijai Sardesai and Lavu Mamledar along with women protesting against the Margao ODP at the PDA office. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
In a day of dramatic developments, a large number of residents from Margao and Fatorda laid a siege to the South Goa Planning and Development Office (SGPDA) on Thursday, thwarting PDA Chairman Mauvin Godinho and members from giving their stamp of approval for the controversial Margao ODP.
The near three-hour siege was finally lifted by the agitators led by three MLAs, Digambar Kamat, Vijai Sardesai and Lavu Mamledar at around 12.30 pm after SGPDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar complained of uneasiness and had to be rushed to a private hospital. Ashok Kumar has since been admitted in the ICU of an Aquem-based private hospital for high blood pressure and is under observation.
Drama began to unfold early Thursday morning as men and women, many of them supporters of the Margao and Fatorda MLA, descended at the PDA office ahead of the meeting scheduled at 10.30 am, to discuss and approve the controversial ODP. Before, PDA Chairman Mauvin Godinho and other members could make their presence felt in the office, the protestors closed the main gate leading to the office and squatted on the floor with placards. They raised slogans against Mauvin and other members, alleging that the PDA is out to sell the city to builders and demanding scrapping of the plan.
The protests turned vociferous when Mauvin along with his PA Clifford entered the fourth floor via the elevator, and tried to enter the office, only to be greeted by a hostile group of women protestors. An unfazed Mauvin waited for some time near the lift and it was only after PDA member and BJP-backed Margao Municipal Council councillor Rupesh Mahatme arrived at the spot, they all left, promising to return after tea. However, Mauvin along with other members headed to the district Collectorate building and were monitoring the developments from the office of Additional Collector Rancon Pereira.
In the meantime, the three PDA MLAs, Digambar, Vijai and Lavu along with Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai made their presence felt outside the PDA office located on the fourth floor of the Osia Commercial complex. Addressing the protestors, Digambar said no one has the right to destroy the sacred land of Lord Damubab, Margao’s presiding deity.
In his brief address, Vijai Sardesai pointed out that the blockade of the PDA office by Madgavkars only signals one thing that the people have blocked corruption in the PDA. Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar said that Ponda will not remain what it is if the PDA is allowed to approve the ODP.
The three MLAs along with the MMC chairperson later entered the PDA office and held discussions with Member Secretary Ashok Kumar. Inside the office of the Member Secretary Digambar and Vijai were heard telling PDA member Savio Correia, who is the chairman of the sub-committee, to search his conscience whether he too is in agreement with the ODP that is sought to be approved by Mauvin and other members.
The three MLAs along with the MMC chairperson later held the adjourned meeting in the conference hall in the presence of the people and resolved that the PDA should grant one month's time to government departments including the PWD to submit their say on the ODP.
Around this time, the three MLAs requisitioned the services of a local doctor as Member Secretary Ashok Kumar complained of uneasiness. Since his blood pressure was found on a higher side, the Member Secretary was rushed to Aquem hospital, where he was admitted in the ICU for observation.
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PDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar being attended by a doctor in a private hospital after his admission. Santosh Mirajkar
After stiff resistance, govt bid to shift meet venue for ODP approval flops
MARGAO: Even as the three-hour siege blocked the PDA chairman and his members from making it to the office on Thursday morning, the government made an abortive attempt to shift the venue of the SGPDA meeting in a bid to approve the Margao ODP, but in vain.
After Mauvin along with Rupesh Mahatme left the building and went to the district collector, the government sent an SOS to the SGPDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar with a direction from the Chief Minister’s office to take all files along with the staff and head to the district Collectorate building with the PDA staff under police protection.
The government’s attempt was again thwarted by the three MLAs as Digambar and Vijai questioned the move without intimating the members with prior notice. The trio further warned that any attempt made by the PDA chairman to hold the meeting outside the office will be challenged in the court of law.
The government’s plan came a cropper after the PDA member secretary complained of chest pain and got himself admitted in a private hospital.
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Photo caption.
SGPDA Chairman Mauvin Godinho stopped from proceeding to his office by women protesting against the ODP. Santosh Mirajkar
PDA meet to discuss and pass plan adjourned to Dec 21: Mauvin
MARGAO: With the plan to approve the Margao ODP coming a cropper for the second time on Thursday, SGPDA Chairman Mauvin Godinho said the adjourned meeting of the PDA will now be convened on December 21, to discuss and pass the plan.
“We were taken off guard today when the opposition mobilised people to block our entry into the PDA office. The meeting will now take place on December 21 morning in the PDA office itself to pass the ODP," Mauvin told The Goan.
He said the December 21 meeting will be held in the PDA office, adding that the police will take care of people who tried to block members from attending the meeting.
Commenting on Thursday’s development, Mauvin said the meeting could not take place as any attempt to remove the people from the corridors of the PDA would have resulted in law and order. Secondly, the meeting could not be held since the Member Secretary was taken ill. “What has happened in the PDA today only goes to show that there was no merit in the protests and they resorted to a political agenda. What happened was open goondagiri. Not allowing me to go into the office and pushing the ladies in the front is indeed bad. That only goes to show that they are politically bankrupt," he said.
Replying to a question, Mauvin said on Thursday’s PDA meeting will now be held on December 21 since it could not take place due to law and order, asserting that the so-called meeting taken up by the opposition MLAs has no legal sanctity.
