MARGAO: The South Goa Planning and Development Authority on Wednesday at its meeting decided to seek legal opinions on the tendering the sopo collection at the wholesale fish market and on the land acquisition for the kabrastan at Sirvodem before any further proceedings.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat along with Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai demanded that the South Goa Planning and Development Authority immediately tender the sopo collection at the wholesale fish market and asserted that a “temporary arrangement” cannot be made a permanent solution.
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Speaking to media persons both leaders pointed out that at the last meeting of the SGPDA it was unanimously decided to invite tenders to collect sopo at the SGPDA wholesale fish market and added that tenders have not been invited as yet.
They said contractor Milagres Fernandes was asked to collect the sopo as a temporary arrangement. “But it looks as if the contractor has now become the son-in-law of the SGPDA and is not leaving the premises,” Vijai alleged.
He revealed that according to the PWD estimates, the sopo collection would be around Rs 1.73 crore. Presently, Milagres is paying SGPDA only Rs 9 lakh per month while a private party had offered to pay SGPDA Rs 17 lakh per month which was not even considered by the body.
SGPDA chairperson Wilfred alias Babashan D’Sa admitting that the matter had come up for discussion, said since the matter is pending in the courts they had decided to seek legal opinion and added that it would not be correct for them to take any decision in the matter when the matter is sub-judice.
The SGPDA also decided to seek legal opinion on the issue of acquiring land at Sirvodem for the multi public utility service, which is more popularly known as land acquisition for a kabrastan. Wilfred disclosed that 22,565 sq mts of land is proposed to be acquired of which 21,425 sq mts is in Navelim village while only 1,140 sq mts in Margao town.
He said the matter came up for discussion as the government has asked the SGPDA to return the Rs. 15 crore given to it for the said land acquisition. “We need advice on whether SGPDA can or should spend such huge amount to acquire land that is not in the town limits,” he said.
He also disclosed that the authority will dismiss I-Ecosystem from collecting the garbage from its markets and added that one Caetano Fernandes may be given the contract to treat the garbage from both wholesale as well as retail markets.
He pointed out that the said Caetano was recently felicitated by the Chief Minister for his exemplary work in garbage management and added that he had agreed to collect mixed waste and treat it scientifically after segregating the wet and dry waste.
“We cannot discriminate against anybody and hence had to reject the demand made by Goan Wholesale Fish Traders’ Association to allot certain land in the wholesale fish market to them,” he said adding that ‘their request to permit 40 trucks belonging to them to enter the market was also rejected.’
He admitted that a few members of the Margao Wholesale Traders’ Association control the wholesale fish market as they have many trucks which occupy most space and fed up with this, the local Goan traders have formed the new association named Goan Wholesale Fish Traders’ Association.
