PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had inaugurated a multi-purpose market complex at Porvorim on August 16, 2021. The inauguration was done in a hurried manner. Porvorim MLA and minister Rohan Khaunte was also present at the ceremony. Although more than two years have passed since the inauguration of the project, the shops are yet to be allocated.
Some of the shop owners from the old market said that the Goa Housing Board has finalised the rate at Rs 90,000 to Rs 1 lakh per sq meters for each shop. They claimed that the Board has asked them to acquire outer space including the carpet area which the shop owners did not agree to. Chairman of Goa Housing Board and MLA Jit Arolkar was not available for comment when contacted.
It may be recalled that Arolkar had earlier said that the new market complex is ready but the shop owners are not ready to move in due to revised rates. He had also said that a joint-meeting with the traders was called in the same month and if they did not agree then the shops would be auctioned in June 2023. Six months later, there has been no update on the same.
Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that the shops from the old market were demolished last November.