PANAJI: The Urban Development Minister, Mr Joaquim Alemao has said that the government would initiate an independent inquiry into the illegalities committed in the Corporation of the City of Panaji including illegal parking scam and illegal occupation of shops in the new city market.

Replying to the issues raised by members of the House on Monday during discussion on demands for the Urban Development Department, Mr Alemao informed the members that CCP was an autonomous body which took its own decision but the government has found that many of the decisions were wrong and has hence decided to intervene in the matter and set things right. He also said that the government was not supporting anyone.
Mr Alemao also told the House that the issue relating to common cadre for municipal bodies would be solved soon in consultation with the finance department, even as he said that Rs 20 crore worth octroi collected by the government was distributed among the municipal bodies in the state. He also said part of the old dues to the civic bodies has also been cleared.
Replying to the issue of solid waste disposal, he said that only 30 per cent of the waste was generated in the urban areas and the remaining 70 per cent came from rural areas, particularly from hotels located along the coastal areas. He also said that the rural waste was disposed off in urban areas. He also denied doing any injustice to any civic body in the state.
Meanwhile, the Ports Administration Minister, Mr Nilkanth Halarnkar informed the assembly that government would initiate steps to stop the expansion plans of the Mormugao Port Trust authorities after consulting competent authorities, including those of the Centre. He also said that a House committee to decide the issue has already been formed by the government.
He also said that the state government would take up dredging of the rivers in the state to remove the silt that has accumulated in the river beds and make them navigable. He said that dredging work at Sarmanos and Tonca would be taken up soon and that other areas would also be covered in due course of time.
Earlier, the members raised the issue of inability of the government in controlling solid waste generated in the state, even as they pointed out that most funds from Goa State Urban Development Authority were spent in Cuncolim municipal areas, which fall in the Cuncolim constituency represented by the minister.
The members also expressed concerns over the expansion plans of MPT and urged the government to take steps to prevent the expansion that was detrimental to the interests of the people of the state on various counts.