the goan I network
MARGAO
With less then a fortnight to go to bring about an amicable settlement to the Sonsodo imbroglio before the district Court pronounces its order, the Margao Municipal Council on Monday sent a detailed report to the government with a request to take a call on the suggestion made by the South Goa district Court to try for an amicable settlement of the dispute.
Margao Municipal Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar was huddled with civic officials on Monday to discuss the Court observations on the dispute between the civic body and Fomento before dispatching a report to the office of Director of Municipal Administration (DMA).
“Today, the MMC has sent the Court’s observation to the DMA’s office as the Court has called upon the two parties to try for an amicable settlement in the dispute,” Panchwadkar said, while saying it is now for the government to take a call on the matter.
At the last date of hearing, the Arbitration application filed by Fomento before the Court on August last, South Goa district Judge B P Deshpande had stated that it is expected that the government authorities should call the officers of applicant Fomento for negotiations within a period of one week so that proposals could be exchanged as the matter is pending before the Court since August 2019.
“Since the time of filing of this present application, this Court is also trying for amicable settlement and both the Learned Counsels have shown interest in such process. However, till date no talks were held between the Officers of the applicant (Fomento) and the government authorities. Learned Counsel for the respondent, S Padiyar submitted that he will pursue with the government authorities to carry out discussions/negotiations between the applicant and the government authorities as early as possible,” Judge Deshpande said.
He added, “It is expected that the government authorities should call the officers of applicant for negotiations within a period of one week from today so that proposals could be exchanged as the matter is pending before this Court since August 2019.”
Judge Deshpande made it clear that as the present matter is an application under Section 9 of Arbitration and Conciliation Act, the same cannot be kept pending for longer period.
“Considering the submissions made today, the matter is now kept for final hearing after a period of 15 days and in between the parties shall try to negotiate the matter for amicable settlement”, the Judge said, while making clear that no further time will be granted to the respondent (MMC) in the matter.
While posting the matter for final hearing on January 21, the Judge said the parties are free to negotiate and try to come to a settlement if possible within the above time.
After terminating the Concession Agreement with the Margao Municipal Council, Fomento had requested the civic body to pay a termination amount of Rs 14 crore, a claim disputed by the civic body, stating that the computation of the termination payments under the purported termination notices is not on sound basis and is not supported by the Concession Agreement or its clauses.
