Shadow Council for Margao Convener Mr. Savio Coutinho continuing it’s tirade against the Margao MLA Digamber Kamat, stated that the root cause for the unnecessary and perennial expenditures at the SGPDA parking lot, *was the lack of foresight on the part of Margao MLA representing the city for last 28 years*.
Mr. Coutinho referring to the delay in the execution of the works for the parking lot at the SGPDA grounds, recalled that hundreds of trucks of mixed waste from Sonsodo was ruthlessly dumped at the SGPDA ground in a very unscientific manner, at the behest of Margao MLA in the early 2000’s. We as opposition councillors then, along with local residents objected to the dumping of waste; however the government and the Margao MLA continued dumping the plastic ridden waste, which effects are experienced now.
The reason for holding the Margao MLA responsible for this is that, at the time when Sonsodo waste was effectively treated by the Komex plant set up in the year 1999-2000, the *new government formed by defections then*, stalled the company from the treatment of waste at Sonsodo, stating that Komex company was *extracting a GOLDMINE*. In the absence of treatment and disposal of city waste, the waste accumulated at the dump yard. And this *GOLD from the Sonsodo MINE* was force dumped at the SGPDA grounds, besides other low lying areas in the city.
We have seen the SGPDA and the PWD spending lakhs of rupees in desperate attempts to provide level parking spaces. However, in no time the ground settled, creating water ponds during monsoons.
Now there exists a proposal for the development of this parking lot under the MPLAD scheme, and we fear that the *costs involved towards providing a firm base for the project may be double than the project itself*, Mr. Coutinho revealed. We see only 2 possibilities, either excavate the underlying waste and shift it elsewhere, or provide a VERY COSTLY Reinforced Cement Concrete raft foundation, he said further. “The third option which could possibly attract this government and our leaders is the *Bio Remediation of the 20 year old waste at SGPDA ground*”, Mr. Coutinho stated sarcastically.
The constituents of Margao are not only free to elect Mr. Digamber Kamat time and again, but also *celebrate the victory in the form of continued neglect and ill planning of the city*. The Shadow Council for Margao will continue to highlight and educate the MADGAONKARS about the facts that *personal interests of their representatives superseding public interests*, Mr. Coutinho concluded.
