VASCO
A series of civic issues were addressed and discussed during the council meeting at the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) on Friday.
The issues ranged from the protection of the fishermen's houses under the CRZ notification, shifting of Vasco fish market vendors, development of gardens, the controversy of NOC for water connection, High Court notice for mismanagement of garbage and the long-pending issue of the Chief Officer Bungalow project.
Speaking to reporters after the council meeting Councillor Fredrick Henriques said that as per the new CRZ Notification, the fishermen's dwellings had to be safeguarded.
"We have 10 wards that come in the Bay from Baina to Kharewado and parts of Vaddem where fishermen have been operating for several years and have been declared as fishing villages through the Council. CRZ act clause offers protection to the fishermen dwellers and we put forth a proposal that these houses should be regularised through GCZMA and other councils and panchayats must also insist on saving fishermen houses across Goa," said Henriques.
City ward Councilor Shami Salkar said that the 53 traditional vendors would be shifted to the renovated old market premises within 15 days much before the monsoons.
"We have taken a resolution to develop the two gardens in Vasco through CSR from Suvarna Bandekar group in a phased manner because these gardens are entry points to Swatantra Path. Though there were plans of developing the Flower garden first, we have requested them to take the Children's play park first because the children can make the most of the summer holidays," said Salkar.
Councillor Deepak Naik said that MMC had received a notice from the High Court for mismanagement of garbage.
"We have seen that the garbage collector takes mixed garbage and we have decided to add garbage collection fees in the house tax and have an open tender for the garbage collection contract and place condition. The garbage collector doesn't wear uniforms and we have no idea of how much garbage is collected per ward and what is our exact requirements. Our technical department will study the issue before the tender is floated," said Naik.
"The technical department must issue NOCs in quick time and help people with other works on priority and in a time-bound fashion to generate revenue. We have seen that the Chief Officer Bungalow project has been pending for years and we have decided to start the project again but under a new name of MMC Commerical Complex through GSUDA after diverting our funds to them because the estimated price of Rs 3 crores has gone to Rs 6 crores with interest and the final cost could go beyond 8 to 10 crores. While MMC cannot afford to put the extra amount as of now, GSUDA could take up the excess costs," said Naik.
"There was an issue raised of an alleged fake NOC by a Municipal engineer but we cannot comment on how far it could be true and we have placed it before the council who will decide on the issue and act accordingly," said Naik.
MMC Chairperson Damodar Kaskar said that the major issue at the council meeting was the garbage notice issued by the High Court.
"We will have to take the issue seriously and take more steps to dispose of the wet waste scientifically and we have asked the DMA for support to buy equipment to help solve the garbage issue. We will stop the dumping of garbage arriving on a daily basis and treat and dispose of it daily. We have been sanctioned with a 10 tons biodigester plant but we have 20 tons of garbage and we have asked for another plant to tackle another 10 tons of waste," said Kaskar.
Kaskar said that certain areas of the jurisdiction would be notified as the pay parking area through which the issue of parking of rent-a-car vehicles would be resolved along with other parking issues besides generating revenue as well.
The issues ranged from the protection of the fishermen's houses under the CRZ notification, shifting of Vasco fish market vendors, development of gardens, the controversy of NOC for water connection, High Court notice for mismanagement of garbage and the long-pending issue of the Chief Officer Bungalow project.
Speaking to reporters after the council meeting Councillor Fredrick Henriques said that as per the new CRZ Notification, the fishermen's dwellings had to be safeguarded.
"We have 10 wards that come in the Bay from Baina to Kharewado and parts of Vaddem where fishermen have been operating for several years and have been declared as fishing villages through the Council. CRZ act clause offers protection to the fishermen dwellers and we put forth a proposal that these houses should be regularised through GCZMA and other councils and panchayats must also insist on saving fishermen houses across Goa," said Henriques.
City ward Councilor Shami Salkar said that the 53 traditional vendors would be shifted to the renovated old market premises within 15 days much before the monsoons.
"We have taken a resolution to develop the two gardens in Vasco through CSR from Suvarna Bandekar group in a phased manner because these gardens are entry points to Swatantra Path. Though there were plans of developing the Flower garden first, we have requested them to take the Children's play park first because the children can make the most of the summer holidays," said Salkar.
Councillor Deepak Naik said that MMC had received a notice from the High Court for mismanagement of garbage.
"We have seen that the garbage collector takes mixed garbage and we have decided to add garbage collection fees in the house tax and have an open tender for the garbage collection contract and place condition. The garbage collector doesn't wear uniforms and we have no idea of how much garbage is collected per ward and what is our exact requirements. Our technical department will study the issue before the tender is floated," said Naik.
"The technical department must issue NOCs in quick time and help people with other works on priority and in a time-bound fashion to generate revenue. We have seen that the Chief Officer Bungalow project has been pending for years and we have decided to start the project again but under a new name of MMC Commerical Complex through GSUDA after diverting our funds to them because the estimated price of Rs 3 crores has gone to Rs 6 crores with interest and the final cost could go beyond 8 to 10 crores. While MMC cannot afford to put the extra amount as of now, GSUDA could take up the excess costs," said Naik.
"There was an issue raised of an alleged fake NOC by a Municipal engineer but we cannot comment on how far it could be true and we have placed it before the council who will decide on the issue and act accordingly," said Naik.
MMC Chairperson Damodar Kaskar said that the major issue at the council meeting was the garbage notice issued by the High Court.
"We will have to take the issue seriously and take more steps to dispose of the wet waste scientifically and we have asked the DMA for support to buy equipment to help solve the garbage issue. We will stop the dumping of garbage arriving on a daily basis and treat and dispose of it daily. We have been sanctioned with a 10 tons biodigester plant but we have 20 tons of garbage and we have asked for another plant to tackle another 10 tons of waste," said Kaskar.
Kaskar said that certain areas of the jurisdiction would be notified as the pay parking area through which the issue of parking of rent-a-car vehicles would be resolved along with other parking issues besides generating revenue as well.
