Team Herald
PANJIM: Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, now of the Goa Forward, the man who effectively runs CCP, has taken a dramatic turn of sorts and declared that Panjim’s civic body will not “hand over” land to the government for the proposed Waste Management plant at Bainguinim, but desires an MoU to be signed instead, where the land remains with the CCP.
After a unanimous decision at a meeting with the ruling corporators of the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP), Monserrate claimed that all 15 of his panel will join the GFP after September 24. However there are murmurs of uncertainty where at least a couple of corporators confided to Herald that they are not yet certain of taking the plunge and joining a party.
“The Bainguinim land has been acquired by CCP and the property is exclusively for a garbage treatment plant. Why does the government want to take it over? Let the government sign MoU with CCP if it wishes and ownership still remains with the Corporation. Let the land be with CCP,” Monserrate told Herald.
He said the ruling panel wants a garbage treatment plant. “We don’t want the government to take over the land. My thing is very clear that ownership of the land remains with CCP,” he added.
The former minister also said that ruling Corporators will soon join GFP, but after September 24. “I am told this is not an auspicious time so the ruling Corporators will join GFP after September 24,” he said. Sources said that 15 of the corporators are set to join the regional party that is a part of the coalition government.
Monserrate also held a meeting with TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai, who is the president of GFP.
