TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Finally bowing to public sentiments, the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) on Tuesday agreed to allot suitable space for a place of worship for the three religious communities in the mega market complex after government approval.
The PDA is likely to allot one of the three garages in the market complex for the installation of the religious structures of the three communities after demarcation and construction of a wall.
After a day of hectic activity, wherein the PDA met twice on Tuesday to break the impasse arising over the demolition of the religious structure on Tuesday, the PDA headed by Chairman, MLA Rajan Naik finally decided this evening to allot space in the market complex after obtaining government nod.
The vendors welcomed the PDA decision, but warned that the PDA should expedite and complete the process at the earliest. The PDA Chairman assured a delegation of vendors that he would personally take the proposal to the Chief Minister, who also holds the Town and Country Planning portfolio on Wednesday for an early decision. He said the PDA has no intention to hurt the religious sentiments of any community, adding that the space will be allotted for worship after complying with the legal formalities.
The PDA decision came on Tuesday evening after an adjourned meeting of the authority, which saw the members consulting the legal adviser. PDA Member Secretary Vinod Kumar said the PDA has agreed in principle to allot the space pending approval by the government. “The PDA land belongs to the government and it is but natural for the Authority to obtain the government nod before allotting the space”, informed Kumar.
MLA Vijai Sardesai said that no one should harbour any doubts that the PDA would not honour its promise of allotting the space for the three communities. “I am confident that the proposal will receive government nod”, he said, adding that PDA decision needs to be ratified by the government as per the rules.
Adv Anacleto Viegas along with the agitated vendors welcomed the PDA decision, but demanded that the PDA complete the process without any delay. He warned of an agitation if there’s any delay on the part of the PDA to allot the promised space, saying they would now take up the host of issues plaguing the mega market.
Earlier in the day, agitated vendors along with Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco and Adv Anacleto Viegas called on the PDA members before the scheduled meeting and demanded space in the market complex for worship. The PDA later adjourned the meeting around noon and inspected a couple of sites within the complex and finally zeroed in on the garage identified by the vendors.
The PDA again met at 4 pm and discussed the issue threadbare, wherein the PDA decided to allot the space within the market complex for all the three religious communities, but only after seeking government permission.
The Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Church, Fr Avinash Rebello paid a visit to the SGPDA market complex, wherein market vendors narrated him the sequence of events that led to the demolition of the religious structure on Tuesday.
