‘No occupancy permit until GSL breaks retaining wall’ | Goa News

Vasco:Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) stood firm on its decision to not grant any occupancy certificate to Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) for its remaining two floors of the seven-floor building project on Tuesday, till the company takes back its retaining wall under the road widening setback area.
Councillors Fredrick Henriques, Deepak Naik, and Yatin Kamurlekar objected to the occupancy certificate.
The GSL had earlier taken an occupancy certificate for its five-story building project from the director of municipal administration.
However, the incumbent chief officer Deepesh Priolkar decided to take the issue before the council in its special meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting was also attended by the transport minister Mauvin Godinho.
Despite lengthy discussions and Godinho’s request, the council resolved not to grant the occupancy certificate to GSL unless it takes back its compound wall, which touches the highway. The wall has been causing several accidents in the area.
“In reality, the construction licence was issued on the condition that GSL would take back its compound wall that touches the main road; however, GSL failed to keep its word,” said Henriques.
“GSL had never considered our demand to recruit locals. Allocating four labourers to MMC under its CSR initiative doesn’t mean that the council should bow down to the demands of GSL, said Naik. He further went on saying, “I can provide labourers to MMC at my own cost to work at various sites”.
Kamurkekar demanded that the GSL officials be invited to attend the council meeting where both the authorities can make appropriate decisions in the interest of the people and the defence sector.
After all the discussions, the council decided to defer the issue to its next meeting, which will be attended by Godinho and the GSL officials.