MAPUSA
The Mapusa Municipal Council on Friday found itself at the centre of criticism after it placed on its council meeting agenda a proposal related to the controversial six-storey commercial complex near the old municipal building “ despite the structure still lacking the mandatory Occupancy Certificate (OC) five months after its inauguration.
The complex has been embroiled in controversy from the day it was opened to the public without statutory approvals and the latest move to discuss allotting floors to the Mapusa Town and Country Planning (TCP) office and the electricity department only deepened concerns about the council’s priorities and procedural approach. Several councillors expressed shock that such a proposal was even tabled when the building itself remains unauthorised for occupation.
MMC Vice Chairperson Prakash Bhivshet, who is under scanner for his deafening silence on some crucial civic issues, broke ranks this time to rebuke administrative officials for failing to resolve the long-pending matter. “Time and again I have been asking for a report from Municipal Engineer 1 and 2 so that we can find a way out. It is important to resolve the problem as we are losing revenue,” Bhivshet said, questioning the prolonged inaction.
Councilor Tarak Arolkar reminded the council that the matter is still sub judice and asked why such a discussion was even being entertained. “During the inauguration, the local MLA claimed the OC would be issued within eight days. Five months later, there is still no sign of it,” he remarked.
Councilor Kamal D’Souza demanded clarity on the PDA completion certificate, a prerequisite for OC issuance, but officials failed to provide any satisfactory response.
A municipal engineer attempted to justify the delay, pointing to a dispute with a private landowner from whom the municipal council had used 28 sq mtrs out of a 120 sq m plot while constructing the building. According to the engineer, the council proposed compensating the owner for the occupied portion, but he allegedly demanded a staggering 200 sq mtrs of land in exchange “ an “unreasonable” request, the official said.
The discussion, however, yielded no concrete solution and quickly devolved into a lengthy, unproductive debate.
After nearly wasting an entire session on the contentious topic, Chairperson Priya Mishal decided to defer the proposal, leaving the core issues unresolved yet again.
