PANAJI: Stating that the Corporation of the City of Panaji is criminally responsible for the traffic congestion as well parking problems encountered in the city, the Leader of the Opposition and the city MLA, Mr Manohar Parrikar, on Tuesday, said that the Bharatiya Janata Party,

the BJP faction on the opposition side of the city municipal body as well as he himself will oppose pay parking in two out the three newly proposed pay parking areas around the city.
“We have strong reservations about converting the 18th June Road as well as the municipal market area into pay parking zones,” Mr Parrikar stated, adding that the Taleigao MLA can comment about the third parking lot proposed at Dona Paula.
He also said that the opposition to the pay parking proposal would come on all fronts including through civil disobedience, legislative recourse and finally, if necessary by way of legal provisions.
Addressing a press conference, held at the city BJP headquarters, Mr Parrikar said that all the new buildings in the city have flouted rules and without adhering to the plans as presented to the Planning Development Authority, gone ahead denying access to the parking of vehicles.
“In fact, the officials of the CCP have taken bribes and issued occupancy certificates to such buildings, even when the parking spaces shown in the plans of these buildings have disappeared,” he alleged, demanding that all such converted spaces should be immediately opened up by the CCP for parking of vehicles, before going ahead with its pay parking project.
The Leader of the Opposition further informed that the BJP will be holding an interactive conference with NGOs and citizens, next month wherein individuals would be asked to come out with their views on traffic problems and pay parking, 
Maintaining that during the past three years, the CCP has not spent even a rupee on the development of the main part of Panaji, which contributes 85 per cent of the Corporation’s revenue, Mr Parrikar said that he had managed to construct the footpath along the Rua de Ourem with the funds of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, while ` 25 crore have been sanctioned through the funds of the Economic Development Corporation, for upgradation of Patto Plaza area.
He added that the city municipal garden is being given a face-lift through the tourism department funds, while city roads are repaired through the public works department.
Stating that not only the apples, but the entire apple tree in the Corporation administration is rotten, Mr Parrikar alleged that the likes of Mr Daya Karapurkar and Mr Uday Madkaikar, who form part of the CCP’s ruling faction, are working as ‘Collecting Agents.’
He also charged that at least 50 per cent tenants of the new city municipal market complex are frauds and do not conform to the original list of the CCP, further pointing out that the market has been allowed to overflow with sellers and vendors, which has resulted in extra vehicles arriving in the area. 
Replying to a question, Mr Parrikar said that he is against dissolving the present CCP council as it would absolve the ruling side councilors of their misdeeds.  “In fact, the citizens should throw out these councilors lock, stock and barrel, during the Corporation elections scheduled next year,” he noted.
Answering to another question, Mr Parrikar said that nearly 80 per cent of the CCP funds are spent on staff salaries and administrative expenses, while rest 20 per cent is not enough to take care of any substantial development of the city.
The members of the opposition BJP faction at the CCP, who were present at the briefing included Mr Suresh Chopdekar, Ms Vaidehi Naik, Mr Sandeep Kundaikar, Ms Diksha Mainkar, Mr Rupesh Halarnkar and Mr Varsha Haldankar.