Team Herald
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is once again advocating for a cafeteria within the famous Margao Municipal Garden, known as Aga Khan Children’s Park, despite earlier resistance when the idea was tabled. The matter is set to resurface at the Council’s January 3 meeting, raising fresh debate about its feasibility and necessity.
Former MMC chairperson and convenor of the Shadow Council for Margao (SCM) Savio Coutinho criticised the renewed push for the cafeteria, saying, “It looks like the proposer of the restaurant in the multilevel parking facility is still lobbying with the powers-that-be for the allotment of municipal premises (garden) for a restaurant.”
It may be recalled that earlier, there was a plan to establish a restaurant on the rooftop of the multilevel parking facility, which attracted public criticism and had to be withdrawn due to a lack of bidders.
In this case, the cafeteria proposal first sparked controversy when it was introduced at a previous council meeting, with critics questioning the sudden urgency of the BJP-led civic body to establish such a facility in the garden. Many had raised concerns about the lack of public consultation and whether the project aligns with the garden’s intended purpose.
The meeting this week will also address the fate of the long-delayed multilevel parking project, initially planned to ease congestion in the city. The MMC is now considering a hydraulic parking system after failing to attract bidders for the original concrete structure. However, the focus on a cafeteria has overshadowed discussions about Margao’s pressing parking issues, particularly around the garden.
Adding to public frustration, the Council appears to have shelved the proposed ‘Dada-Dadi and Nana-Nani Park’ for senior citizens, an initiative long touted as a priority.
Coutinho also highlighted another glaring oversight in MMC’s agenda. “There is absolutely no mention of the future course of action against the staff who misappropriated Rs 18 lakh or the recovery of the money,” he noted, accusing the Council of shielding the accused employee instead of pursuing justice.