MARGAO
With the High Court granting time to the Margao Municipal Council to file its affidavit in respect of the controversial Colmorod land acquisition case, the Margao Municipal Council had a special meeting on Thursday to discuss and deliberate how to go about the court matter.
This is the second special meeting held by the Margao Municipal Council specifically to discuss on the controversial land acquisition for the Colmorod road given that a party had filed a contempt proceedings in the High Court.
At the Thursday’s Council meeting chaired by Chairperson Damu Shirodkar, the Council authorized Chairperson Shirodkar and the Chief Officer Manuel Barretto to take any decision as deemed fit in the matter to protect the interest of the Council.
There was not much discussion in the matter and the City Fathers, cutting across party lines authorized the Chairperson and the Chief Officer to file the affidavit taking into account the interest of the civic body.
When the Councilors sought to know the details on the amount of Rs 2.73 crore deposited in the High Court as per the Court directions, Margao Municipal lawyer, Adv Maria Mesquita briefed the City Fathers what transpired at the hearing when the High Court directed the Council to deposit the amount in the Court.
Given that the MMC had only Rs 30-40 lakh in the treasury, it was later decided to use the unutilized Grant in aid lying with the civic body. The lawyer further informed that the Director of Municipal Administration appeared in the High Court to give his nod to utilize the unutilized grant-in-aid in order to deposit the amount of Rs 2.73 crore in the High Court.
The matter will come up for hearing in the High Court on January 10 wherein the MMC is expected to file a detailed affidavit on the land acquisition matter.
