NT Reporter
Margao
Terming the government’s proposed kiosks along Margao’s Ring Road as illegal, the Citizens of Margao, along with members of the Margao Congress block, on Wednesday threatened to pursue legal action, including a contempt petition, if the government proceeds with the proposed “developmental works”.
“GSIDC has proposed 27 kiosks along the Ring Road stretch under the pretext of constructing a promenade. We oppose this, as it constitutes a blatant disregard for the prior order issued by the High Court,” convener Savio Coutinho told reporters. He was accompanied by Radha Kavlekar, Clifford Dias, Iftiyaz Shaik, Aziz Shah, Camilo Camara, Anwar Naroo and other citizens.
“The mere fact that the construction of 27 kiosks is included in this development clearly indicates an attempt to create a vote bank at the expense of public funds and government land, which was originally acquired for road construction. If these unlawful works are not halted, we will be compelled to initiate appropriate legal measures,” they said.
Coutinho alleged that several tenders amounting to crores of rupees had been proposed in the past, but none were completed, despite claims that funds had been spent. He said the PWD initially developed the southern side of the road, including a footpath and an eight-metre-wide road.
He said that a subsequent GSIDC tender, originally meant for constructing footpaths leading to the railway overbridge, was repurposed to construct the northern side footpath and the remaining width of the road.
Crores of rupees were spent on filling and preparing the base for the northern side road, with only asphalting pending, but the tender was later “foreclosed,” he said, citing a similar instance.
