MARGAO
Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai's South Goa Planning and Development Authority headed by Goa Forward leader Dr Renuka Da Silva will have to finally contend with a competitor in the Margao Municipal Council in respect of leasing out space for exhibitions in the commercial capital.
The TCP Minister-controlled Margao Municipal Council headed by Babita Prabhudesai has resolved to open its vehicular parking land at old market, adjoining SGPDA's sprawling ground, for exhibitions, sen
Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai's South Goa Planning and Development Authority headed by Goa Forward leader Dr Renuka Da Silva will have to finally contend with a competitor in the Margao Municipal Council in respect of leasing out space for exhibitions in the commercial capital.
The TCP Minister-controlled Margao Municipal Council headed by Babita Prabhudesai has resolved to open its vehicular parking land at old market, adjoining SGPDA's sprawling ground, for exhibitions, sen
ding a message loud and clear to the SGPDA that the Margao civic body is eyeing for a big slice of the rupees half-a-crore of revenue earned by the planning body annually via exhibitions.
Over the years, the SGPDA had virtually enjoyed a monopoly of sorts with exhibitors and organisers left with little option but to hold the exhibitions on the sprawling PDA grounds for want of alternate open spaces in the heart of the town. The PDA's monopoly, however, may now be a thing of the past with the Margao Municipal Council emerging as a strong competitor to the PDA with the civic body on Tuesday resolving to open the acquired parking land for exhibitions.
Otherwise, consider this. While the PDA was charging a flat Rs 40 per square meter of space leased out to the exhibitors, the Margao Municipal Council on Tuesday has come out with an attractive rate, which may appeal to the exhibition organizers -- Rs 30 per square meter, Rs 10 less than the PDA's rate.
While the MMC's Standing Committee has accorded green signal to the civic body to lease out the acquired parking land for exhibitions, the panel has also given clearance for the rate per square meter.
The MMC Chairperson, who is also a member of the SGPDA, however, said the civic body is not into any competition with the SGPDA by taking a decision to open the parking land for exhibitions. "The standing panel has taken the decision to open the parking space for exhibitions for the sole purpose of mopping up additional revenue for the civic body. And, we are looking out to lease the land for auto exhibitions to enrich the municipal coffers," she added.
While Babita sought to explain that the municipality is not into competition with the SGPDA, sources in the corridors of the civic body said the fact that the civic body has fixed a rate less than the PDA's prevailing rate speaks of the real intention of the city fathers.
SGPDA officials, however, were tight lipped over the resolution adopted by the MMC's standing panel. A senior official conceded that the SGPDA used to earn a revenue of around Rs 50 lakh on an average annually from exhibitions. The official added that the Margao Municipal Council's decision to lease out the parking space adjoining the SGPDA grounds for exhibitions may dent into the PDA revenue. "The SGPDA being a semi-autonomous planning body used to generate revenue by way of leasing out the acquired land for parking for exhibitions with revenue from development permissions on the decline. This revenue was even being used to pay the PDA staff salaries," the official added.
Over the years, the SGPDA had virtually enjoyed a monopoly of sorts with exhibitors and organisers left with little option but to hold the exhibitions on the sprawling PDA grounds for want of alternate open spaces in the heart of the town. The PDA's monopoly, however, may now be a thing of the past with the Margao Municipal Council emerging as a strong competitor to the PDA with the civic body on Tuesday resolving to open the acquired parking land for exhibitions.
Otherwise, consider this. While the PDA was charging a flat Rs 40 per square meter of space leased out to the exhibitors, the Margao Municipal Council on Tuesday has come out with an attractive rate, which may appeal to the exhibition organizers -- Rs 30 per square meter, Rs 10 less than the PDA's rate.
While the MMC's Standing Committee has accorded green signal to the civic body to lease out the acquired parking land for exhibitions, the panel has also given clearance for the rate per square meter.
The MMC Chairperson, who is also a member of the SGPDA, however, said the civic body is not into any competition with the SGPDA by taking a decision to open the parking land for exhibitions. "The standing panel has taken the decision to open the parking space for exhibitions for the sole purpose of mopping up additional revenue for the civic body. And, we are looking out to lease the land for auto exhibitions to enrich the municipal coffers," she added.
While Babita sought to explain that the municipality is not into competition with the SGPDA, sources in the corridors of the civic body said the fact that the civic body has fixed a rate less than the PDA's prevailing rate speaks of the real intention of the city fathers.
SGPDA officials, however, were tight lipped over the resolution adopted by the MMC's standing panel. A senior official conceded that the SGPDA used to earn a revenue of around Rs 50 lakh on an average annually from exhibitions. The official added that the Margao Municipal Council's decision to lease out the parking space adjoining the SGPDA grounds for exhibitions may dent into the PDA revenue. "The SGPDA being a semi-autonomous planning body used to generate revenue by way of leasing out the acquired land for parking for exhibitions with revenue from development permissions on the decline. This revenue was even being used to pay the PDA staff salaries," the official added.
