MARGAO: The Shadow Council for Margao (SCM) condemned Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and his councillors for the allegedly illegal erection of banners/hoardings in Margao, which they said are in contempt of directions from the High Court and the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA).
In a representation to the Chief Officer of Margao Municipal Council (MMC), SCM drew attention to their correspondence in November that had a list of banners/hoardings erected during the festival of Diwali. “While no efforts whatsoever have been made towards the recovery of the revenue lost by the council during the Diwali festival, new banners/hoardings for Christmas/New Year have been erected again. And this time, even after there being a ban on the erection of hoardings, in view of the High Court Petition, PIL W.P. 32/2011,” said SCM Convenor Savio Coutinho.
Coutinho added the directions of the Director for Municipal Administration vide memorandum dated 15/12/2022 have also been ignored and violated. SCM pointed out that as per that memorandum, all the municipal councils had been directed to remove all existing hoardings before 31/12/2022 and file a compliance report.
“However, the said hoardings with Christmas wishes have been freshly erected, and that too after the High Courts observations, and DMA directions. As such this violation attracts necessary action with penalty,” SCM added. “We are indeed amused to find the hoardings of Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, erected at several locations in Margao, much against the court directions. The said hoardings have been erected well after the necessary directions have come to be notified to the council, and yet the council prefers to look the other way,” Coutinho added. “We are indeed weary of the fact that our local MLA feels that he is above the law and hence the council under his control should not act against the display of his hoardings,” he remarked.
