Team Herald
MARGAO: Promising transparency, Chairman of the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) Krisha ‘Daji’ Salkar, announced that the Outline Development Plans (ODPs) of Margao and Ponda would be finalised within two months’ time.
Speaking to reporters after the PDA board’s 100th meeting on Wednesday, Salkar said they have finally closed the ODPs of Margao and Ponda that had been kept open for objections and suggestions from the public, until Wednesday. “Today we also formed a committee that will study all these objections in a time-bound manner. The hearings will also take place soon and within two months’ time, we want to finalise the ODPs,” said Salkar.
The Chairman also said SGPDA will soon be filing an FIR against the previous contractor of the fish market for failing to clear bills amounting to Rs 20 lakh. Without naming anyone, he added that action will also be taken against all those who were involved in illegalities at the SGPDA. “When I took over this office, we found outstanding payments everywhere and no money coming in. There were unpaid bills that had accumulated for months and had reached huge figures. Through the one-time settlement scheme, we have cleared most of these bills,” said Salkar.
“Now we are taking steps where by next year we will be able to be self-sustaining financially and not have to depend on the government for funds. Take the fairs that happen on our grounds. Earlier we would get between Rs 1.5 to Rs 3.5 lakh and this time we got Rs 18 lakh. Next year we aim to get Rs 25 lakh from the fair” said Salkar.
He also noted that following discussions with the Chief Minister, the SGPDA is not moving the wholesale fish market to an alternate location on a temporary basis, but work on renovating the market will continue at the same site.
