MARGAO: Madganvcho Awaaz and Youth Leader Prabhav Naik on Monday submitted two separate representations to the Chief Officer of the Margao Municipal Council concerning major development proposals in the city. He was accompanied by social worker Dattaraj Pai Fondekar, Wency Cirilo Angelo Gonsalves and Sudharma Kalangutkar.
In the first representation, Prabhav Naik objected to any hasty decision regarding the redevelopment of the Old Margao Bus Stand site without public consultation and transparency. He sought clarification regarding the recent site inspection conducted at the premises and questioned the urgency of taking major decisions when the municipality is presently under an Administrator.
The representation pointed out that while the State Government, through Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, has announced plans to develop Margao under the Central Government’s Smart City Mission, the city presently faces pressing issues such as crumbling infrastructure, waste management concerns, sewage problems, traffic congestion, parking shortages and public safety issues. It was stressed that Margao requires a comprehensive development and rescue plan rather than isolated projects undertaken in haste.
Naik recalled that during the presentation on the Draft Master Plan 2041 held in June 2025, citizens had demanded meaningful stakeholder consultation before major decisions affecting the future of Margao are taken. He further noted that Madganvcho Awaaz had also objected to the proposed hydraulic parking project behind the Margao Municipal Building, citing concerns over the suitability, maintenance and long-term sustainability of such a mechanism in Goa’s humid, high-rainfall and saline coastal environment.
In a separate representation, Prabhav Naik requested the Margao Municipal Council to provide advance intimation of any presentation proposed for citizens and stakeholders regarding the development of the Margao Municipal Garden and Aga Khan Park. He pointed out that several representations and RTI applications had already been submitted on the subject.
Madganvcho Awaaz believes that transparency, public participation and accountability must remain central to all development initiatives in Margao and urged the authorities to keep citizens informed and involved in decisions concerning the city’s future.
