Why is public money being poured down the drain at Miramar? (Herald)

April 30, 2014

Panjim’s best road, Miramar-Dona Paula, dug twice in three months. Rs 1.3 crore spent then, Rs 60 crore believed to be the cost now 

CCP gives NOC to GSIDC with Mayor and other city fathers in the dark lCCP Commissioner, GSIDC now feign ignorance about the project  

PIL likely to be filed to stop construction

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: This is too bizarre to be true. After spending Rs 1.3 crore in January to dig a road and lay sewage lines the CCP has cleared the way for the same stretch of road to be dug from Miramar to NIO circle, for an estimated cost of over Rs 60 crore, according to those in the know.

The NOC issued by CCP Commissioner Sanjith Rodrigues to the Manager Engineering of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) where Rodrigues is himself the Managing Director, is a classic case of a sanction flowing from one hand to the other. This brazenness is acute because the mandatory provision of a clearance by the city corporation has been done by the chief of the corporation who is also the head of the infrastructure organization to execute the project.

Rodrigues’ official political boss, Mayor Surendra Furtado, has no clue about this project which his corporation has supposedly given a go-ahead. 

“We have not cleared any proposal from the Corporation of the City of Panjim to the government for doing up the road. One could understand if the road was in a bad shape. But that was not the case,” Furtado argued, adding, “There is so much more this kind of money could have been spent on, beautification of Panjim, developing the areas of Boca da Vaca and other such projects. It is a complete waste of money.”

This could add fuel to the already smouldering fire between the corporation backed by St Cruz MLA Atanasio Babush Monserrate and local MLA Manohar Parrikar, also the chief minister. His panel sits in opposition in the CCP.

Sanjith Rodrigues, also the managing Director of GSIDC, is on leave and no one else in that office was willing to even speak or offer any comments about the project. In fact when Panjim resident Anand Madgavkar, one of the more prominent citizens voices against the project, called Rodrigues, he reportedly said that he wasn’t aware of this road project. Rodrigues hasn’t been available for comments.

But anger against this project, of great inconvenience to the residents of Panjim is building up. While a series of RTI applications have been filed a PIL is expected to be filed on Thursday morning by activist advocate Aires Rodrigues.

Such a brazen attempt to play with public money will not be allowed to pass without severe resistance.

Panjim wants to know 

* Why was the Miramar to Dona Paula road dug half way to Dona Paula once again to concretize it?

* How did the CCP Commissioner writer a letter to xxxxxx without taking the CCP Mayor or any of the city fathers knowing about it?

* Why wasn’t a tender floated for this project. Work on digging the road commenced immediately after CCP Commissioner Sanjith Rodrigues issued the NOC?

* The same road was hot-mixed after a sewage line was laid. Why wasn’t the road made concrete then?

* Why is no one in the GSIDC willing to talk about this project, which stares in the face of every Panjim resident?

* Why has the start and completion date not been displayed at the site?

* Why hasn’t Mayor Surendra Furtado sought an explanation and got the CCP to pass a resolution revoking the NOC issued by its Commissioner?

http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Why-is-public-money-being-poured-down-the-drain-at-Miramar/88168.html

Almost every condition laid down by CCP has been flouted

April 30, 2014

 

The CCP Commissioner laid down 6 conditions for the GSIDC for the permission to be valid. Almost all have been flouted. They are:

 

1.  Proper signboards should be displayed at work site during progress of work.

2.  Shall take necessary NOC from all other service provides and maintain proper co-ordination with all agencies.

3.  Excess mud/debris should be lifted from the site immediately & site should be cleaned by sweeping.

4.  Necessary precautionary measures like barricading, fluorescent taping etc. should be taken while digging the trench/pit so that the existing telephone/electric cable/water supply/sewage lines etc. are not damaged.

5.  For traffic diversion during execution Panaji Traffic Police may be contacted well in advance.

6.  In case of violation of any of the above conditions the permission is liable to be revoked without any notice.

7.  You will be solely responsible for any damages cause to existing water supply / telephone and electric line.

8.  For road closure necessary permission/order from District Magistrate, North Goa should be obtained.

9.  Work execution plan should be submitted immediately.

10.  Order of Honourable High Court in Suo Moto No. 3/2007 may be adhered to.

http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/Almost-every-condition-laid-down-by-CCP-has-been-flouted/88167.html