The unusual situation has again brought to the fore the question as to why the Margao municipality cannot make available land in its own market and whether the civic body is dragging its feet so as not to antagonize those who have encroached upon the municipal property
MARGAO
If many a Madgavkar and a trader felt that the authorities will expedite construction of the dedicated overhead water tank in the Gandhi market to boost fire fighting in the congested city markets after the Tuesday night inferno at a residential house at Gandhi market, hold on.
The PWD technical section has rejected the design of the proposed overhead tank on land admeasuring 75 sq mts when the area required for the project is 100 sq mts. Following the rejection of the overhead tank design, the PWD, Margao division has written to the Fire Services and the Margao Municipal Council that it’s not feasible to construct a overhead water tank in the Gandhi market on 75 sq meters of land.
In fact, PWD Assistant Engineer Vijai Kudchadkar told The Goan that it’s now crystal clear that it is now impossible to build the overhead tank unless the Margao Municipal Council makes available 100 sq mts “ the bare minimum land required for the purpose.
The unusual situation has again brought to the fore the question as to why the Margao municipality cannot make available land in its own market and whether the civic body is dragging its feet so as not to antagonize those who have encroached upon the municipal property.
President of New Market Traders' Association, Vinod Shirodkar said that it’s indeed sad that the overhead tank proposal has not found favour with the PWD, adding that the new Margao Municipal Council should step in and end the deadlock. “Tuesday night fire incident at the Gandhi market ought to be an eye opener to the authorities, including the MMC, fire and the police. All efforts should be made to put in place the overhead water tank to meet the emergencies," Shirodkar said, while disclosing plans to call on the new Margao civic chairperson Babita Angle to intervene and make available 100 sq meters area in the Gandhi market for the proposed overhead tank.
