the goan I network
PONDA
Ponda Municipal Council Chairperson Dr Radhika Nayak on Monday said several projects announced by them could not materialise because of “too much of politics” in municipal affairs.
“We (council) were not a failure and we tried our level best to bring the projects into reality. But our development work suffered due to too much of politics,” Dr Nayak said.
The last meeting of this council’s present term was convened on Monday, which was adjourned for some reasons. Chief Officer Navnath Naik and councillors in majority were present on the occasion.
During the meeting, the council discussed about developmental works and resolved to construct the Ganpati immersion platform in Warkhande.
Later speaking to media persons, Dr Nayak said it was an emotional moment for all councilors and for her as chairperson. “We tried our best to make life better for the citizens of Ponda,” she said.
Incidentally, this council could only resolve the issue of garbage and that too, because of councillor Venkatesh Naik, who addressed the issue. As a result, the PMC was awarded the best civic body in the state for solid waste management. Dr Nayak on Monday thanked Naik and former chief officer of PMC Johnson Fernandes for the successfully handling the issue.
However, the PMC failed to complete projects, announced by the council, during the last five years. The Signature Project under the Golden Jubilee fund, which provides for a movie theatre, food court, hall and a library, is still under construction. Dr Nayak, however, claimed that the council managed to get additional funds for this project.
The projects under GSUDA covering sports projects like football stadium and a gymkhana building, an ‘underpass road’ of around 60 mtrs from St Anne Church to the cemetery, multi-level parking and commercial project at the place adjacent to police station, commercial project planned by PMC at the present Shastri hall building and other projects planned by PMC have not materialised.
Excluding the signature project, even foundation stones for these projects were not laid.
“We wanted to complete these projects, but due to politics we could not complete them,” Dr Nayak admitted.
