On April 18, 2008, the then Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat laid the foundation stone for the Mormugao Taluka headquarters building complex and assured the residents of Vasco that within three years, the project would be a reality. With this, citizens would not be made to run from pillar to post in government offices scattered at various locations in the port town. However, eight years later, the dream of having the building in the vicinity is distant. People therefore are forced to run helter-skelter and climb up and down the steps of government buildings obtained on rent.
There are different political theories due to which the project has not yet come up. According to citizens of Vasco, the project would have provided immense relief since citizens are forced to scamper from one building to another to get work done. Additionally, the unfriendly staff and lack of chairs to sit and relax add to the woes.
“Almost every government office in Vasco is congested and scattered. Due to this, people are forced to run around and face undue hardships in order to get their work done. Additionally, the atmosphere inside these offices is congested and suffocating and this adds to the annoyance. By now, this headquarter project should have been completed. Why it still remains incomplete, only political leaders can say,” Pramod Amonkar, a Shantinagar resident said.
According to information obtained from the office of the deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate, out more than 40 government offices in the taluka, 21 are operating in rented premises, including key offices.
Interestingly, the government pays a monthly rent ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 to private owners as well as to the Mormugao Municipal Authorities. Collectively, the rent per month paid to all these owners would be nothing less than Rs 8 to 15 lakh. This has been going on for several decades now but the need to construct its own headquarters is still not given priority. “Sadly during every election, whether Municpal election or Assembly elections, political parties prepare a manifesto promising to construct a taluka headquarters building. But after the elections, they fail to fulfill this promise and this has been going on for the last decade or so,” Preetam Keluskar, a social activist from Vasco said.
“During the regime of the Congress government, I had proposed to construct a six storied building in the area of around 8,400 square metres with the facility of a conference hall, a sitting capacity of 150 persons and a Minister’s chambers and a parking facility for 80 four-wheelers and 120 two-wheelers. I feel the present MLA has denied citizens their rights by not completing the project I started. The project which was estimated at Rs 22 crore then has now shot up to Rs 80 crore. If the current MLA had an issue with my project, then he should have submitted a supplementary estimate for the same project,” said former Vasco MLA, Jose Philip D’Souza.
Meanwhile, Herald contacted the present Vasco MLA, Carlos Almeida who is also the Chairman of the Kadamba Transport and Corporation Ltd and Mormugao Planning and Development Authority. He was quick to point out that due to technical faults in the design, the proposal was scrapped. He added that he has now proposed an ultra modern bus stand, estimated to cost around Rs 100 crore which could accommodate all the government offices under one roof near the KTCL bus stand at Mundvel, Vasco.
“The project proposed by Jose Philip D’Souza wasn’t planned properly and was without and proper soil testing. I have now proposed an ultra modern bus stand at the existing venue at Mundvel where the GSIDC will execute work on the project. As per the new plan, the administrative building will be ahead of the new ultra-modern bus stand and will have multi-storied parking, air condition hall having a seating capacity of 1,000 people etc. I’m sure we’ll be able to solve Vasco’s congestion issue with this project,” he said. He further added that as per the plan, the foundation stone for the project would be laid on April 23rd at the hands of Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar.
