MARGAO
Panic was palpable at the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) meeting held on Monday after an official drew attention of the Council to the High Court order pronounced on Monday directing the Council to deposit an amount of Rs 2.73 crore in the Court in connection with a land acquisition proceeding at Colmorod-Margao.Former MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho, who was in the High Court during the hearing of the matter, however, expressed surprise that the MMC went into a panic mode when the High Court has given options to the civic body regarding the case. “I am surprised that a panic situation is being created in the civic body when the High Court has given options to the Municipality including the option to challenge the order. However, somehow a wrong message has gone to the Council saying the civic body has to deposit the amount of Rs 2.75 crore or face action,” he said.
When the matter was brought to the notice of the Council during the meeting, the City Fathers were left to wonder what was the case all about. They were, however, told that the Chief Officer may come in for trouble if the amount is not deposited in the Court by Tuesday before giving the clearance to deposit the amount.
The matter pertains to an over two-decade-old land acquisition proceeding when land admeasuring around Rs 2400-odd square meters was sought to be acquired by the civic body for the construction of a road.
