MARGAO
Asserting that no decision has been taken by the Margao Municipal Council to set up a restaurant in the proposed multi-level parking project, Margao civic chief Damu Shirodkar has strongly rooted for reserving space in the proposed parking lot for storage of old records and documents and for other administrative purpose.
Speaking his mind on the controversy surrounding the restaurant proposal in the multi-level parking project after Margao MLA Digambar Kamat publicly batted for the proposal, Damu on Friday asserted that the restaurant proposal was never discussed at the Council meeting during his tenure, leave alone taking a decision in support of the restaurant project.
The Margao civic chief said he has no idea whether Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has batted for the restaurant project in the parking lot. He, however, went to the extent of asserting that the Council is the right forum to discuss the proposal if there is any move to set up a restaurant in the parking lot.
“The multi-level parking project has been handed over to the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) for execution by the Margao Municipality. The civic body has even transferred funds to GSUDA to set up the parking lot. The restaurant proposal was never discussed at the Council meeting during my tenure,” Damu said.
He added: “If such a proposal is being mooted by someone, it has to come back to the Council for discussion and resolution. So far, no such discussion has taken place and no resolution in support of the restaurant has been adopted by the Council till date.”
When the media sought to know whether he is in favour of the restaurant proposal in the parking lot, the chairperson shot back, “How can I comment on the proposal when there is no decision taken by the Council in support of the restaurant. I am not aware of the statement made by MLA Kamat. We can find out whether the restaurant proposal is mooted by anyone.”
He said since the Council has decided in support of the multi-level parking lot, any proposal to effect changes in the original plan should come before the Council for a decision.
Damu, however, has come out strongly in support of reserving space admeasuring 100 sq mtrs in the parking lot for the storage of old Municipal documents and other items. “Since the Margao Municipal building is a heritage building, we cannot make changes in the structure due to which the building passages and corridors are dotting with cupboards containing documents. The multi-level parking lot can address the issue of space in the heritage building by reserving space for the records,” the Chairperson asserted.
