MARGAO, JAN 6
With Fomento finally approving the draft concession agreement, the Margao Municipal has set in motion the process to ratify the agreement, beginning from next week.
Margao Municipal Chairperson Sushila Naik said the Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya has decided to hold a presentation for the benefit of the City Fathers on the waste treatment plant proposed to be set up by Fomento at Sonsodo.
The Civic body will invite the Municipal legal counsel – who had approved the draft concession agreement – for the Presentation to answer queries from the City Fathers and allay their apprehensions, if any.
“The presentation may take place either on Monday or next week. The Chief Officer will finalise the date”, she said.
Naik further said that the special meeting will be convened after the presentation which will deliberate on the pros and cons of the draft concession agreement to be signed with Fomento.
Since the agreement will remain in force for the next 25 years, the present lot of City Fathers are treading a cautious path, fearing that they would be blamed if anything goes awry between Fomento and the Civic body over the next two decades and half.
In fact, many a City Father have raised eyebrows over the exact amount the Civic body would be required to pay to Fomento for tackling waste at Sonsodo.
While Fomento had bagged the award for Rs 7.31 crore, sources in the corridors of the Civic body say the cost may escalate to Rs 12-odd crore as per the Net Present Value (NPV).
In this respect, the City Fathers may be called upon to decide whether the Civic body should clear the entire payment of Rs 7.31 crore at one time or pay Rs 12-odd crore over the span of 25 years.
“All these issues are new for the City Fathers. We would request the Chairperson to ensure that all our queries and grievances relating to all aspects of the project are properly addressed by the Chief Officer and the legal counsel”, remarked a City Father.
