PANAJI
Discussion on the controversial proposal for the settlement of the National theatre land issue through compromise formulae is likely to be a burning issue during the corporation of the City of Panaji meeting on Monday.
The meeting to be chaired by CCP Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes and Mayor Rohit Monserrate will be held after an almost four months gap.
Opposition corporators and some of the ruling panel corporators have opposed the move to give the National theatre land for private operators.
Earlier CCP meetings had a stormy discussion on the issue as former Mayor Surendra Furtado and Uday Madkaikar had opposed the move.
However, mayor Rohit Monserrate and Commissioner Agnelo Fernandes have argued that an outside court settlement will help to solve the issue, otherwise the litigation will go on for another 10 years.
Monserrate has a reason for defending his decision. He says as the National theatre issue has been pending in court for the last 13 years, the issue may linger on for more years and the outstanding which is over Rs 37 crore may further add on.
CCP is set to take possession of the 1,594 square-metre property located in the heart of the city for another private player.
Along with the theatre issue there are a total of 28 main subjects listed in the agenda of the meeting. Declaring Panaji as a garbage-free city, revision of pension of retired CCP staff, the fees to be levied on advertisement hoardings, discussion on signing of lease agreement with Panaji market shop occupants, painting of Zebra crossing, construction of 310 toilets in city area, etc are the other issues lined up for discussion.
Meanwhile, the term of the Mayor and the Deputy mayor is going to end on March 30 and there will be a special CCP meeting to elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. It is likely that Monserrate will be elected as Mayor this year.
