TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Buildings are normally painted before festivals and major events, but the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) is reluctant to paint its building ahead of the famous Vasco Saptah even though it had a sponsor for the project.
Sources in the MMC told Herald that local industrialist Narayan Bandekar had volunteered to paint the MMC building, but his proposal has been kept in abeyance.
“Bandekar had also beautified the St Andrew’s Church Square by painting and repairing the broken iron railings. This beautification drive has given it a festive look as one enters the port town. The post office has also painted their part of the building, but the unpainted portion of the MMC building makes it look ugly,” said the source.
When contacted, Vasco Planning and Development Authority Chairman and Ward Councillor Krishna Salkar confirmed that Bandekar had volunteered to paint the MMC building.
“It was due to my request that Bandekar not only agreed to paint and repair the St Andrew’s Church Square, but had also volunteered to paint the MMC building,” said Salkar.
When asked why the MMC had not accepted Bandekar’s offer, Salkar said, “It was presented before the council, but I am not aware why the painting was not carried out.”
MMC Chief Officer Y B Tavde admitted that the proposal to paint the MMC building had been forwarded to the council.
“As the MMC building is due for renovation, the council preferred to paint the building through funds from the Directorate of Municipal Administration, otherwise the painting by the sponsor would have gone to waste,” Tavde added.
