MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Outrage has erupted among the citizens of Margao over suspicions of a scam linked to the preparation of the town’s master plan. Despite the contract being deemed invalid, it has been revealed that the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) disbursed over Rs 68 lakh to the agency tasked with drafting the Master Plan.
An official from GSUDA however clarified that the payment to the agency was made prior to the contract's expiration and that the agency has since requested an extension. However, information obtained through an RTI request indicates that the master plan preparation remains incomplete and ongoing.
Former Margao Chairperson, Savio Coutinho, has called for an inquiry into the alleged fraud. He pointed out that the contract for preparing the master plans for Ponda, Margao, and Valpoi Municipal Councils was awarded to StudioPOD Design Private Ltd. for a total of Rs 2.30 crore, including GST. According to GSUDA, the actual work of collecting inputs for the Margao Master Plan only began on February 7, 2023, three days after the contract had lapsed.
“In the absence of a valid contract, how did GSUDA justify disbursing Rs 68 lakh solely for the Margao Master Plan?” asked Coutinho, suggesting that the Master Plan leans heavily towards massive concretisation and accusing the government of avoiding public involvement in the planning process.
Further criticism came from agriculturist Claudio Colaco, who noted that the plan aims to change zoning for green patches in the city, thereby halting all agricultural activities in Margao. Jack Mascarenhas highlighted the planning agency's claim that the drainage system is not within the Master Plan's scope, a surprising omission given its importance.
Mascarenhas warned that improper planning could result in Margao facing issues similar to those in Bangalore, such as severe flooding. Coutinho and others have called for a more inclusive planning process that engages all relevant stakeholders, not just builders and select individuals.
In response to these allegations, a GSUDA official stated that the payments made to the agency were for completed work and occurred before the contract ended. “Gaining stakeholder confidence is the responsibility of the Margao Municipal Council. The master plan will not be finalised without stakeholder approval. The final payment to the agency will only be made upon the plan's finalisation,” said the official.
