the goan I network
MARGAO
Ahead of the crucial hearing of the arbitration matter before the South Goa Sessions Court on August 31, the Margao Municipal Council on Tuesday resolved to deposit only 10 per cent of the total termination payment of Rs 14 crore claimed by Fomento, which roughly works out to only Rs 1.40 crore.
City fathers cutting across political affiliations rejected the suggestion mooted by the Council to deposit minimum 25 per cent of the total termination payment, which
left the administration with no option but to deposit Rs 1.40 crore.
The council, however, did not deliberate on the question whether the civic body has worked out any alternate plan in the event the municipality is told to stop supplying waste to the garbage treatment
plant given that the Concession agreement between the two parties has ended on August 9.
The special meeting convened by acting Chairperson Tito Cardozo to discuss the one-point agenda on Sonsodo generated much heat when the city fathers protested over the failure of the civic administration to provide financial details concerning the Sonsodo plant, the amount paid to Fomento till date and the balance amount of money
sanctioned by the government to set up the waste
treatment plant.
When the Chief Officer Sidhivinayak Naik replied saying the civic body has till date paid an amount of Rs 4.23 crore to Fomento and that a balance amount of Rs 5.23 crore meant for the payments to the Concessionaire lies with the civic body, councillors demanded to know why
the civic administration has come to the council at the last moment seeking sanction to deposit money in the court proceedings when they have been kept in the dark on Sonsodo.
Councillors Rupesh Mahatme, Ketan Kurtarkar, Angelis Pereira and Doris Texeira wanted to know whether the special meeting has been convened because of the court hearing on August 31.
They demanded to know further whether the High
Powered Coordination Committee headed by Chief Minister is aware of the situation at Sonsodo.
The councillors demanded to know why civic officials did not come to the council at the time of appointment of an arbitrator, charging the administration for taking them for granted on the issue.
MMC lawyer, Adv Maria Mesquita, also briefed the councillors over the status of the Sonsodo issue, the payments which the civic body is required to pay Fomento and the termination payment of Rs 14 crore worked out by the Concessionaire.
