Team Herald
MARGAO: “Let Margao give the State a signage policy which the government is in the process of formulating,” said Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai while participating in the Sunday Dialogue at Old Market.
The matter came up when right in front of the square, where the dialogue was held, a shop had a huge signboard prompting Vijai to ask whether such big signboards are permitted. “I think we need to have a policy for signage and MMC can begin, which could also help the State government that is considering such a policy,” he said.
MMC Chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudessai while disclosing that the owner of the shop had abused and threatened councillors yet they raided the establishment four times and have now disconnected water supply to it and has written to the Electricity Department to disconnect power supply.
Councillor Glenn Andrade alleged that some person from the MMC would tip off the owner whenever a raid was planned due to which very often the raiding team would find the shop closed.
GARBAGE MANAGEMENT: Admitting that there are problems with regards to garbage management, MMC Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes said that everything should fall in place by April 1, 2018 under a new initiative.
Various people alleged that neighbouring villagers were dumping their garbage at the transfer stations which had resulted in a mess.
Vijai said that the transfer stations were suggested by him and admitted that they are posing a problem and hoped that installation of CCTV cameras will provide some relief.
However, Johnson said MMC is in the process of privatising garbage collection from households and is also in the process of setting up mini segregation stations. Besides, the council will also start segregating waste at source in seven different categories and this should help improve the garbage management.
“While we are expecting Rs 4.85 crore as receipts from sanitation tax, our expenditure in garbage management is nearly Rs 11 crore,” informed Johnson.
ILLEGAL TRADERS: MMC was asked to take action against the illegal traders who carry out their business adjacent to the road without keeping the necessary set back which poses a threat to motorists.
As the MMC disclosed that the owner had got a stay, the people argued that the stay was with regard to an establishment while there are many more which can be removed by the municipality.
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Abrupt end to Dialogue as Activist protests hooliganism, goondagiri
MARGAO: The Sunday Dialogue at Old Market ended abruptly with social activist Felix Dias protesting hooliganism and goondagiri by some people, who he alleged had illegally filled up the field belonging to a person by constructing a shed. He raised the issue on behalf of the lady stating that her field had been illegally taken over by someone who allegedly used the services of some bouncers and other forces by constructing a shed in the field thereby depriving the lady of the field which was occupied by her for years. Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai assured him that the lady’s interest will be protected if she produces the land ownership documents to the police. “If she does not produce the ownership documents, she has no locus standi in the matter,” he said. Pandemonium broke out when Felix sought to question the use of muscle power to construct the shed there and the Sunday meeting ended abruptly on that note.
