MMC Tinto project gets thumbs down

The Comunidade, which deliberated on the letter received from the Margao Chief Officer Sidhivinayak Naik, has communicated its decision of rejecting the NOC to the civic body.   

A glance at the letter written by the President of the Comunidade of Margao, Savio J F Correia, showed that the rejection is on two main grounds.   

The Comunidade has questioned the nomenclature of the proposed project, saying it is a misnomer. “The locality was always known as ‘Mercado Velho’ or Old Market. The “Tinto” was/is near the Colva circle and owned by the MMC,” the Comunidade letter stated.   

The Comunidade further stated that permitting a major renovation work of the Comunidade building at the Old Market using public funds as proposed could be construed as “indirect financing” of the Comunidade by the government that would, in turn, irretrievably impact its autonomy.   

The decision to reject the Tinto Heritage restoration project was taken at the meeting of the Comunidade of Margao on April 26, sources said.   

MMC CO Sidhivinayak Naik had in his letter dated April 11 addressed to the President of the Comunidade of Margao sought NOC to take up the renovation work of the Tinto area near the Holy Spirit Church, Margao.   

In the letter, the MMC CO had sought the NOC for the renovation of the existing arcade and its roof so as to restore it to its original state by causing minimal modification to the structure.   

The project also entailed renovation of the existing tiled roof of the structure, besides renovation of the existing façade so as to restore it to its original design through minimal intervention to the existing structure.   

Besides, as part of the Tinto area heritage restoration work, the MMC had planned to relocate all the telecommunication related amenities along with telephone lines. The MMC had also proposed relocation of electrical mains, besides relocation of storm water drains, water supply lines and waste water lines.