PONDA: Following the April 2023 elections that brought in a new council, the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) convened its inaugural special meeting, addressing a range of developmental issues. The session saw the presence of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, Chairperson Ritesh Naik, and all the newly elected councillors.
Chairperson Ritesh Naik, told media after the meeting, that the PMC has taken the initiative to auction 43 vacant shops, 40 offices, one hall, and two stalls at the Ponda New Market Complex. Naik also highlighted the completion of necessary repairs, including transformer and electrical wiring checks, lift restoration, roof leak fixes, and water connection installations at the Market Complex. He expressed optimism for a positive response to the upcoming auction, noting that certain shops had remained vacant for over 12 years.
The council passed a resolution to initiate a new tender for the door-to-door garbage collection contract valued at around Rs 2.8 crore. The previous contract is set to conclude on September 30. Further, the PMC has committed to appointing a consultant to expedite the pending Golden Jubilee project. Naik clarified that the project would be completed up to the third floor initially, with decisions about the fourth floor deferred to a later stage. The outstanding tasks for the Golden Jubilee Project encompass civil work, electrical adjustments, and the installation of fire safety equipment. Post-completion, the shops within the building will be put up for auction.