Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: Madganvcho Awaaz & Youth Leader Prabhav Naik has questioned the sudden announcement of a 7-crore illumination project for Margao by the Margao MLA turned PWD Minister Digambar Kamat. With barely four to five months left before his retirement from politics, Naik said the timing of the announcement has naturally raised public suspicion that the project is being rushed to facilitate commissions rather than to serve the genuine needs of Margao.
Prabhav Naik pointed out that just a few months ago, the Minister was aggressively promoting a two-storeyed building inside the Margao Municipal Garden. Following strong public opposition, there has been no clarity on the status of that proposal. Before that came the controversial Master Plan 2041, the Hydraulic Parking project at the Old Fish Market, and the Food Court proposal at the Old Bus Stand. Every few weeks, Margao is presented with yet another expensive project.
He said a 7-crore project cannot be announced in such a haphazard manner. Citizens have every right to know the project’s scope, necessity, technical details, financial justification, maintenance costs and long-term impact. Given the timing of the announcement, people are justified in asking whether the proposal is genuinely in public interest or primarily intended to generate commissions.
Prabhav Naik demanded that before a single rupee is spent, the Government must organise a comprehensive public presentation of the proposal. Resident welfare associations, traders, environmentalists, heritage experts, architects, urban planners and all other stakeholders must be taken into confidence. Margao deserves transparent planning and meaningful public consultation, not election-season announcements made without consensus.
He further stated that while crores of rupees are being proposed for new projects, the city’s basic civic problems continue to remain unresolved. Garbage management, traffic congestion, parking, sewage, sanitation, footpaths, road maintenance and other essential public issues have been neglected for years. Instead of addressing these priorities, the Government continues to push costly projects without transparency or public consultation.
“Development should never become a vehicle for commissions or political publicity. Every major project must be based on public need, transparent planning and financial accountability. The people of Margao deserve honest governance that prioritises solving everyday civic problems over hurried announcements made in the final months of a political career”, stated Prabhav Naik.
