Margao Municipal Council warned against its renewal
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Council’s decision to list the controversial Costa grounds issue on the meeting agenda scheduled on Tuesday has evoked opposition from the Aquem Ground Bachao Association, which has threatened to resume its agitation if the proposal is not dropped from the agenda and the matter kept in abeyance.
Association Vice-President Cruz Martins warned the civic body not to succumb to the pressures of politicians with vested interests, especially councillors owing allegiance to Margao MLA Digambar Kamat.
In a letter addressed to the MMC Chairperson and the Chief Officer on the eve of the council meeting scheduled on Tuesday, the Association said the council seems to have included in the meeting agenda the proposal of renewal of construction license due to some political pressure.
He drew attention of the civic body to the fact that Costa ground was the only land available for sports, cultural and recreational needs of Aquemkars, including senior citizens. “Costa ground has been used traditionally for the last several decades for sports, recreational and cultural activities by various schools, sports clubs etc, besides government departments, including the Directorate of Art and Culture. This is the only land available and used by various schools, clubs, religious institutions for their sports, recreational and cultural needs,” Martins added.
He pointed out that the Association had written a letter to the CM Manohar Parrikar to arrange necessary funds to acquire the land for the welfare of the citizens of Aquem and Margao in general.
Incidentally, a look at the meeting agenda speaks about a proposal to renew the construction license on Costa grounds. There was no brief note attached to the agenda, other than saying a proposal to renew the construction license on Costa ground.
In a letter addressed to the MMC Chairperson and the Chief Officer on the eve of the council meeting scheduled on Tuesday, the Association said the council seems to have included in the meeting agenda the proposal of renewal of construction license due to some political pressure
