Team Herald
BICHOLIM: The Bicholim Municipal Council on Monday denied all the allegations of Bicholim Bachav Abhiyaan (BBA) and informed that the construction and shifting of the five kiosks is purely temporary and there were no illegalities in the matter.
Speaking at a press conference, here, BMC Chairman Satish Gaonkar said that the kiosks are under a staircase, which is in a dilapidated condition and added that the BBA and the former MLA Naresh Sawal’s allegations are totally baseless and politically motivated.
“These kiosks are shifted as they are under a staircase which is dilapidated and can collapse at any moment. So we are going to demolish it. Those kiosks owners were given the place some 30 years ago and they also have the electricity connection,” Gaonkar told.
“It is only temporary shifting and all the allegations of the BBA are politically motivated and baseless,” he said.
Regarding the already existing 24 other kiosks, the councillors mentioned that they would be soon shifted to new premises once the work of the building is ready. They also denied the allegation of Sawal, regarding parking facility and informed that special parking facility will be soon made available and that the process in this regard is underway.
“Sawal is making allegations which are against development and we would not keep quite. He has no more hopes in politics and should not dream of becoming an MLA again,” Gaonkar said. BMC Councillors Kunda Falari, Ajit Birje, Sudan Govekar, Vijay Natekar, Rama Naik, Kamelsh Teli and Dattaguru Pal were also present for the press conference.
Meanwhile, Chief Officer Vivek Naik strongly opposed the allegations made by BBA and informed that the five kiosks have not been given any order by his office.
Speaking at the backdrop of the controversy and allegations the CO said that all the allegations of BBA are totally false. Neither he nor his technical section has given any sanctions to the construction of those kiosks.
“The allegations are totally false as we have not given them any orders. We are in the process of completion of phase four project and so the staircase will have to be removed. Till the time the staircase is removed the project cannot take shape,” CO Naik informed.
“We will be sending a proposal to the government and till the approval from them there will be nothing done from my side. The allegations on me are totally baseless and there is no fact to it,” Naik explained.
