http://oheraldo.in/node/9226
All said and done...nothing! BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 31 - Just five days to go for the curtains to come down on the centenary year of the Margao Municipal building, it's now certain that 100th anniversary will end sans any festivities, thanks to callousness and lethargy of the previous and present body. What's more, the building beautification - planned to deck up the 100 -year-old heritage structure for the big occasion - has hit a block, with work being grounded for the moment for want of funds. Ironically, the Council was scheduled to kick-start the year-long centenary celebrations on December 19, 2004, which was later postponed to February 5, 2005. So far, only around 60-70 per cent of the beautification works - which got underway in mid-2004 - stand complete, while the balance work is progressing at a snail's pace due to lack of funds. What's interesting to note is the fact that the building beautification project was conceived to deck up the structure for the centenary year celebrations. Herald understands that the contractor has completed works to the tune of Rs 60-70 lakh, but is awaiting payments on account of Government delays to sanction the promised funds amounting to Rs 1.5 crore for the beautification works. A visit to the civic body reveals that the Council and the City Fathers appear more occupied with chalking out plans to organise the forthcoming Carnival festival than with the centenary year activities. And, going by the ongoing work, civic officials agree that it will take another two to three months time to complete the work provided the funds are made available by the Government. Sources said the file relating to the sanction of funds is awaiting a nod from the Government for the last three months, indicating that things would not move ahead unless the project receives Government sanction. Incidentally, the Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao is on record in the Goa Legislative Assembly that his Ministry would not sanction any funds to the Margao civic body for beautification of the municipal building. And, take note the civic body's grandiose plans to showcase the city and its landmarks in a special souvenir to mark the centenary year appears all, but forgotten. -- Salaam ali kum. Gabe Menezes. London, England
