MARGAO
Upping the ante against the controversial plan to set up a restaurant in the multilevel parking project proposed by the Margao Municipal Council, former Chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council, Ganashyam Shirodkar has dashed off a letter to the Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane to scrap the restaurant proposal from the parking project in the larger public interest.
Ganashyam has warned that any attempt to bulldoze with the restaurant proposal in the multilevel parking project will be vehemently objected by Madgavkars, disclosing plans to knock the doors of the judiciary to stop the proposal.
He told the media on Tuesday that he has written the letter to the Urban Development Minister to draw his attention that the idea of accommodating a restaurant in this project has never been deliberated upon in any of the council meetings.
“The primary purpose of this proposal was solely to alleviate the parking crisis in Margao. Introducing a restaurant now, which will most certainly increase footfall, and lead to potential congestion in the area, is contradictory to the very purpose of this project”, he said.
He added: “Moreover, there are concerns arising among the locals about the intentions behind this restaurant proposal. Margao, being a diverse city, thrives on its unity and any undertaking that might seem biased or tailored for a particular community could be detrimental to communal harmony”.
Ganashyam further drew the Minister’s attention that even the MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar has come out clear saying that the Council has never taken any decision to include the restaurant proposal in the propose multilevel parking project.
He further pointed out that the MMC Chairperson has expressed his support for for earmarking an area admeasuring 100 square meters within the parking lot for the safekeeping of old Municipal documents and items.
In his letter, Ganashyam emphasized: "Given that the Margao Municipal building is a heritage structure, we're restricted from making any modifications to its structure. As a result, the building's passageways and corridors are cluttered with cabinets full of documents. Allocating space in the multi-level parking lot would serve as a pragmatic solution to the space constraints within the heritage edifice, thereby preserving its integrity while efficiently managing our resources."
To a question from the media, the former Chairperson said Madgavkars will take to the streets if any attempt is made to bulldoze with the project, even threatening to move the High Court against the project.
Urging the Minister to consider the larger interest of the people of Margao and scrap the restaurant proposal from the multi-level parking project, Ganashyam said ‘such an endeavour should prioritise solving the core issue at hand, which is providing adequate parking space for our citizens”.
