PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar had his way in the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) despite dissent from members owing allegiance to the BJP over the controversial beautification of Ponda’s Kranti maidan, which includes MGP’s lion symbol.
A walk out by two of the SGPDA members Dilip Dhupeshwarkar and Kalidas Khandeparkar did not stop majority of SGPDA members to give their stamp of approval to PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar’s Kranti Maidan beautification plan. In fact, the SGPDA gave the go-ahead signal to the Kranti Maidan beautification plan subject to a condition that a revised plan is submitted to the PDA. There were heated discussions by the two members Dhupeshwarkar and Khandeparkar against the beautification project, who argued against the proposed beautification project. Their argument, however, found no favour with the remaining members, although PDA members, owing allegiance to the BJP, had supported the idea of deferring the matter to a future date.
During discussions, PDA member and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai tried to fish in troubled waters by demanding to know whether the BJP wants the MGP’s Lion only at the time of elections and not in the Kranti Maidan. He and other members of the Planning body supported Dhavlikar’s beautification plan subject to the condition that beautification items not conforming to the norms should be dropped.
Sources, however, said the Lion is expected to have a last laugh as the MGP’s symbol is likely to make its presence felt inside the Kranti Maidan as part of the beautification project.
