Goemkarponn Desk
MARGAO: The creation of the Master Plan for Margao was referred to as a massive scam that cost the public coffers, according to harsh accusations made by citizens and the Shadow Council for Margao. Shadow Council Convener Savio Coutinho made the accusations, which were supported by information gleaned from GSUDA (Goa State Urban Development Agency) through RTI requests.
Coutinho claims that StudioPOD Design Private Ltd.’s contract for preparing the master plan expired in February 2023. In spite of this, it is purported that GSUDA paid Studio POD over 68 lakhs for the Margao Master Plan, despite the fact that the contract was no longer in effect. But according to GSUDA, work on the Master Plan is still in progress.
Several prominent people, including SCM Convener Savio Coutinho, Jack Mascarenhas (GFPK), Arch Carlos Gracias, Lalan Parsekar, Camara, Jose Maria Miranda, Claudio Colaco, an agriculturist, Mara do Carmo, and Clifford Dias, attended the press briefing and demanded a thorough investigation into the purported fraud.
Coutinho also drew attention to the fact that the Master Plan appeared to place more emphasis on concreteization than on involving the public, which raised concerns about the disappearance of green spaces and the end of agricultural activity in Margao.
Citing prior examples, Coutinho brought up the 2010 Comprehensive Development Plan, which was remanded to GSUDA for revisions after public opposition following its release. But in the end, the plan never materialized, leaving the public coffers 40 lakhs lighter.
The Shadow Council declared that it would examine the feedback that StudioPOD received from different parties, claiming that no other pertinent parties were consulted save the son of Margao MLA and the builder lobby.
Concerns regarding the Master Plan’s lack of a drainage system plan were reiterated by Jack Mascarenhas, who cautioned that if proper planning isn’t done, Margao may end up like Bangalore, a developed city beset by problems like flooding.
The accusations made by the Citizens and Shadow Council have raised concerns about the process’s integrity and its potential effects on the future of the city, leading to calls for accountability and transparency in the creation of Margao’s Master Plan.
