MARGAO
The Margao Congress Block and Shadow Council for Margao has called upon affected trade licence holders and taxpayers to attend the Margao Municipal Council Ordinary meeting scheduled for Friday wherein the controversial licence fee hike resolution dated February 27, 2025 shall come for confirmation.
SCM convenor Savio Coutinho has appealed to the opposition councillors to oppose the confirmation of the illegal resolution and demand a vote on the confirmation of the disputed resolution so as to identify the councillors who are in favour of the exorbitant hike.
MMC Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar, while addressing the media after the 27th February 2025 meeting, had claimed that the hike was between 10-15 per cent only. However, when the fees were notified through a public notice, it was realised that the hike ranged from 200-550 per cent.
Subsequently, when the SCM and citizens raised this issue, several opposition councillors confirmed that the minutes were manipulated and had written memorandums to that effect to the MMC Chief Officer and DMA.
Commenting further about the other items on the agenda, the SCM questioned the huge cost likely to be incurred towards the renovation of the MMC building.
Displaying the copy of the brief note circulated to the councillors, the SCM convenor stated that the Rs 14.82 crores expenditure towards the so-called renovation works out to be beyond acceptable construction cost. He stated that the municipal building, which measures 52 mts x 26 mts, works out to an area of 1,352 sqm per floor; and if the proposed estimate is considered, the cost of renovation works out to a whopping figure of Rs 54,000 per square metre.
Lincoln Gomes slammed the MMC over the rehabilitation proposal of gaddas and handcarts at the old bus stand. He charged that vote bank politics seems to be the main focus at the cost of prime public land, which could have been used more effectively.
