the goan I network
MARGAO
The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) has no plans to cap the exhibition-cum-sales at its sprawling parking land at the Old market, notwithstanding strong objections for exhibitions on the PDA ground from the Margao traders.
On the contrary, with an eye on the huge revenue from these exhibitions, the SGPDA has now moved officially to get the land in question the status as an exhibition ground in the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao.
If the traders under the banner of Margao New Market Traders Association has been vehement in objecting to the exhibitions on the SGPDA ground on the plea that the area was acquired for vehicular parking by the PDA, the SGPDA has crossed the first hurdle as the Authority’s proposal to bestow the status of exhibition ground on a portion of the parking lot has received an official nod from the TCP Board.
For, the draft Margao Outline Development Plan (ODP) had proposed notifying a portion of the parking land for exhibitions “ a proposal which has found favour with the TCP Board headed by Chairman Vijai Sardesai. The draft ODP, however, will now be placed before the public inviting suggestions and objections from the people, a mandatory provision which may come in handy for the traders to lodge their objections to the PDA’s proposal to declare the parking land as exhibition ground.
SGPDA’s anxiety to continue with the exhibition-cum-sales on the acquired parking land is understandable given that the parking ground has turned out a huge money spinning activity, enriching the PDA coffers by crores of rupees over the years.
And, with applications for development permissions stands reduced over the years, the PDA officials say the exhibitions have even helped
the Authority to clear the staff salaries.
Says PDA Member Secretary Ashok Kumar: “The PDA has moved for change in zone in the parking land area by showing the corner portion of the acquired land as exhibition ground. The proposal has found favour in the draft ODP approved by the TCP Board.”
Ashok Kumar was candid in admitting that leasing out the PDA ground for exhibition-cum-sales have helped to earn the much-need revenue for the Authority. “Generating revenue is part and parcel of the PDA functioning. There’s nothing wrong in leasing out the acquired land for the purpose of parking,” he added.
On an average, an exhibition-cum-sale on the parking area enriches the coffers of the planning body by around Rs 5-6 lakh. And, the PDA Member Secretary pointed out that the revenue from these exhibitions have come in handy for the PDA to pay the staff salaries. “Unlike the past, applications for development permissions have come down drastically. The planning body has to look out for new avenues to mop revenues,”
he added.
On the other hand, the New Market Traders Association says the PDA has been leasing out their ground for exhibitions and fairs even though the land in question is shown as a parking space. The traders further claim that the land in question was acquired for parking as well as for the use of the general public, Osia complex and the SGPDA market.
