the goan I network
MARGAO
Saying that the Osia Commercial Complex has enjoyed “most preferred status for long”, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday directed departments concerned to conduct its audit after some establishments housed inside came under the scanner for many wrong reasons, including blatant discharge of sewage.
During a meeting with government officials, including SGPDA, Health, PWD, both sewerage and water supply, police, traffic, the TCP Minister told the owner Prakash Kothari he has made a windfall from the Osia Commercial Complex, but has failed to provide basic amenities for Goans visiting the building, which houses government offices, including RTO, Sales Tax, Excise and TCP.
Incidentally, Kothari told the meeting that his complex has obtained sewerage connections for the building, but a PWD official maintained to the surprise of everyone there’s no record available to suggest so.
“Let there be an audit of the entire commercial complex to find out how many shops and establishments are located in the complex, how many have taken sewerage and water connections, the number of toilets and its maintenance and the encroachments in the complex. I want a report from the departments within a week’s time before action is initiated against the builder,” Sardesai later told the media.
Complaining of unhygienic conditions in the complex, the TCP Minister demanded to know why should the SGDPA foot the bill for the maintenance of the toilets in the complex.
He also sought the help and assistance of the Health Director, Dr Sanjeev Dalvi, to get the establishments connected to the underground sewage line. “I want the health department to issue notices to the PWD and power department to disconnect water and power supplies to the establishments in the complex if these fail to take the sewage connections,” he asserted.
“We want to find out what is legal and illegal in this complex. In the past, the PDA had even issued demolition notices which were vetted by the Town and Country Planning Board, but the owner had obtained a stay on the demolitions. The builder had all along received soft treatment from the government, but the owner should be rest assured that no such treatment will be provided to him any more,” he added.
The action against the complex comes against the backdrop of revelations made by Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik that sewage from the complex was directly discharged into the Old
Market storm-water nullah by unscrupulous business establishments.
