TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Corporation of the City of Panaji alleged that garbage was being discharged by the off-shore casinos and was being washed ashore along the banks. Also clients urinate along the promenade as well and are “seen strewing liquor glass bottles and aluminum cans along the road indiscriminately.”
The mayor Surendra Furtado, reiterating that CCP will not issue licences for offices of the off-shore casinos to operate within the Panjim city limits, criticized the government for the transfer of casino licenses, arguing that this would lead to increased parking woes and traffic congestion and cautioned that the repair and upgradation of facilities at the Santa Monica jetty would be utilized to further the interests of Delta Corporation Limited.
Furtado also criticized the Home Department, the Captain of Ports and the Goa State Pollution Control Board for “having participated in concert towards transfer of the licence to the much bigger M V Horseshoe.”
The mayor also wrote to the Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’ Souza asking him to hand over the Old Secretariat Complex to the CCP to use it as its headquarters.
“You must be aware that the Adil Shah Palace is of heritage and historical importance to Panjim, and the erstwhile Camara Municipal de Goa which was later renamed as the Panjim Municipal Council and has now been bestowed the name of Corporation of the City of Panaji following its elevation to the status of a corporation would be the ideal place to house the headquarters of the CCP, since the erstwhile Senado de Goa is one of the oldest in Asia and it would therefore be a befitting tribute to the longevity of the institution to have its headquarters at the Old Secretariat Complex after its restoration and renovation,” says the letter, asking for a cabinet decision on the same.
Furtado in a press note issued here also called on all professionals like lawyers, doctors, dentists, engineers, architects, consultants, banks and other businessmen to pay to the CCP their Trade licence taxes, alleging that these have not been paid for a couple of years and that they have been running their businesses illegally.
“The CCP will give two months to all to settle their trade licence dues failing which the CCP will seal their premises,” he said adding that the CCP has started their drive at EDC Plaza, Patto and will then extend it to other parts of Panjim.
The Mayor said that he has asked the CCP drive to be temporarily suspended, in order to allow businessmen to settle their dues.
