PANJIM: TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai’s Goa Forward Party (GFP) continued to hold the upper hand in the BJP-led coalition government, with party president Dr Renuka Da Silva being appointed as Chairperson of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA), and the party mentor and TCP Vijai Sardesai, obviously, as one of the authority’s members.
Chief Town Planner Dr ST Puttaraju on Thursday issued a notification reconstituting the SGPDA which will deal with planning of areas including Margao and Ponda. The Authority chaired by Da Silva will have Sardesai, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and Ponda MLA Ravi Naik as members.
“Together let’s make Margao, Fatorda and Ponda a better place for all Goemkars,” Sardesai tweeted.
After handing the North Goa Planning Authority (NGPDA) to BJP – Calangute MLA Michael Lobo as chairman – Sardesai had demanded that SGPDA and Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) be given to his party. However, the BJP wants to retain MPDA and is unlikely to concede this post to Goa Forward
BJP Minister and former Congressmen Mauvin Godinho had headed the SGPDA during the previous government’s tenure, when the authority had been embroiled in a major controversy over passing of the Outline Development Plans (ODP) for Margao and Ponda. The matter is currently pending before the High Court.
Sardesai and Kamat were at the forefront in opposing the ODPs. In fact there is as strong likelihood that the new SGPA may actually scrap the new ODP
Other members of the Authority include Ponda Municipal Council Chairperson Radhika Nayak, Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudesai, Vice-Chairperson of Ponda Municipal Council Shantaram Kolvekar and MMC Councilors Florence Tito Cardoso, Lyndon Pereira and Rupesh Mahatme.
There are three citizens on the authority – Venkat Desai from Aquem Margao, Ankit Prabhudesai from Gogol, Margao and Santosh Dessai from Ponda. The Town Planning Officer will be the member secretary.
