TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) on Monday resolved to revoke the ‘resolution’ of carrying out beautification work of Kranti Maidan Ponda.
The council meeting witnessed heated discussion over the issue of ongoing development work of Kranti Maidan Ponda, with five members supporting the work, while nine members opposed claiming that people in Ponda are opposing the work.
Later, it was resolved to revoke the resolution passed last year to carry out renovation and beautification work, which according to the councillors was given only to lay pavers and other works. The resolution was passed by show of hands.
PMC Chairperson Radhika Naik said the Kranti Maidan issue is presently a burning issue in Ponda, as Ganesh Mandals, Christmas committee and prominent citizens of Ponda are not happy with the type of work going on.
“They submitted memorandums that they want Kranti Maidan to celebrate their religious programmes and at least 1,500 people gather during Ganesh or Christmas festivals at Kranti Maidan. The present work will allow hardly 400-500 people,” said Naik.
“Further for such type of reconstruction work, SGPDA’s approval is required and PMC has not got such an approval from the SGPDA. PMC can only decide whether to give approval or not only after SGPDA gives its approval for the plan. Till then, PMC has postponed the decision and revoked its earlier resolution for beautifying and laying pavers at Kranti Maidan,” added Naik.
“PWD started beautification work in December last year, but PMC came to know about the nature of work after some trees were cut at Kranti Maidan. The present work is not as per PMC’s expectations and people are also opposing it,” she said. “The PWD has not submitted the plan and PMC is unaware of construction work. The place is required to celebrate religious and cultural programmes.” The five members supporting the Kranti Maidan, Vincent Fernandes, Vidya Punalekar, Shivanand Sawant, Geetali Talavlkar and Nidhi Mamlekar said the CM had approved the plan and council is going against it.
