Margao : While appreciating the Chief Officer of MMC for his efforts towards the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, Shadow Council for Margao (SCM) Convener Savio Coutinho suggested 3 premises in Margao, following the call from Mr. Agnelo Fernandes for assistance to set up COVID facilities in Margao.
Coutinho pointed out that there exists Municipal Council owned premises at Malbhat, on the land acquired for Pickup stand. These premises having sufficient number of rooms could well be used as a COVID vaccination center or any other related activity. He stated further that though these premises are owned by the Council, the office may not even know whose possession it is in at present. “We have requested the Chief Officer to check upon the Malbhat premises and immediately take possession of the premises for COVID use”, Coutinho informed.
SCM also pointed to the MCC ground having large halls constructed by the MCC club. “Though it is common knowledge that the 40000 sq mts land belonged to the Margao Municipal Council, no documents are available with the Council specifying the status of it’s ownership. However leaving these issues aside for the moment, the present possessors of these premises should be requested to provide the halls to set up COVID facilities in view of the fully packed ESI Hospital nearby”, Coutinho stated.
The Shadow Council also proposed the BPS Club in Pajifond Margao. SCM brought to the notice of the Chief Officer that there is a hall and a huge covered structure which can well accommodate a COVID facility. “We are of the strong opinion that the Committee managing these premises would definitely concede to such request in these times of emergency, as the government on several occasions has contributed funds under various schemes including MPLAD scheme for the development of these premises”, Coutinho stated
The SCM requested the Chief Officer to take necessary steps, in the first place to take immediate possession of the Municipal premises at Malbhat; and to request the management’s of MCC club and BPS Club to allocate the premises for COVID facilities.
With nearly 2500 positive cases under the Margao health center alone, it turns out to be a desperate situation when patients, specially Madgaonkars call for help to get admission in a Hospital in Margao, and we can do nothing for them. SCM hopes that the representatives from Margao also look into the suggestions and assist the authorities in setting up the much needed additional facilities, Coutinho concluded
