Ponda: The twice inaugurated Ponda Muncipal Council (PMC) Golden Jublee Project since 2011 is still incomplete despite being funded by both Congress and BJP governments during their terms and now chairperson Vishwanath Dalvi is apparently set to terminate the existing contract with the contractor and PMC is likely to issue a fresh one in view of completing the project.
According to Dalvi, only the first phase of project is completed. Contractor who was doing the work is not ready to take the work at old rates and demanding revised new rates to complete the project which is not affordable for PMC. He said, “PMC had already served several show cause notices and warning letters to the contractor to complete the work but he is not responding. Therefore PMC would inform about it to PWD. PMC has decided to terminate the contract and issue fresh tender and complete the project at the earliest.”
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Firstly, Rs 2 crore was sanctioned in 2011 by Chief Minister Digambar Kamath-led Congress government for the PMC’s signature project—a building comprising two theatres, halls, library and other facilities—to commemorate the golden jubilee year of Goa`s Libration, and since then the cost went on increasing but to no avail of the project. BJP government had too sanctioned Rs 2.40 crore but despite having funded Rs 4.40 crore (in total) the project lie incomplete till date.
It may be recalled that Ponda MLA and then Home Minister Ravi Naik had laid the foundation stone for the project on December 19, 2011. However the Project witnessed another inauguration in May 2014 by then PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar when Lavu Mamlatdar was Ponda MLA and Radhika Naik was chairperson of PMC. The project was expected to complete by 2016 but few months after constructing till first floor the contractor stopped the work for unknown reason and abandoned the project.
However as the estimated cost went on surpassing the budget, PMC had prepared got additional Rs 2.40 crore sanctioned from government. The work resumed but in 2017-18 the contractor again abandoned the project since then it is held up.
