MARGAO: The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) in its meeting on Saturday resolved to pass demolition orders against some illegal extensions and structures built by the occupants of Osia buildings and others. The Authority has also decided to reconstruct the Usgao Tisk Market.
SGPDA Chairperson Renuka D’Silva informed that the Authority would initiate the demolition of illegalities at Osia buildings, including the theatres and other structures that were not authorised.
Member Secretary Ashok Kumar informed that the compound wall, ticket counter extension and other violations would be demolished, as part of the drive against illegal encroachments.
The Member Secretary also said that nearly Rs 40 lakh of the over Rs 3 crore outstanding fees from the SGPDA market have been received by the Authority. “A notice was issued and a deadline of September 30 was given and now the retailers are voluntarily coming and paying the dues,” he said.
Renuka also informed that the Authority discussed on the budget allocation for the projects that SGPDA planned to take up in the near future.
The Chairperson of MMC Babita Angle said discussion on the heritage and tinto project for Margao were deferred at the meet, as the MMC had to first decide on the issues, adding that even the land for the Camara De Municipal needs to be acquired and the matter has to be initially discussed at the MMC.
Making a reference to the concept of tinto or market place, at a function held in the Margao town TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said there used to be a tinto in all villages in Goa, but this had faded to a great extent due to the commercialization of villages and towns.
Developed at low costs, shops have been sold at a higher cost for a lucrative price and this has resulted in having several shops all over the villages. We cannot have so many commercial areas all over, as there are problems due to over-commercialisation, he said.
He said that Goa may have to someday act like Delhi where they had to go on a rampant removal of commercial spaces due, to excessive commercialisation, while hinting that there would be a change in the policy for curbing commercial spaces.
