Lobo offers to give up NGPDA chair as parrikar keen on ‘rewarding Babush’

PANAJI: North Goa planning and development authority (NGPDA) chairman Michael Lobo told chief minister Manohar Parrikar to remove him as chairman of the NGDPA if "there is a problem in running the government".

Last week, town and country planning minister VijaI Sardesai met Parrikar and proposed that NGPDA be divided into three PDAs for better administration and development.

Parrikar met with Lobo to discuss the division of NGPDA. Speaking to TOI, the Calangute MLA said that in the interest of the government and the party, he has suggested that Parrikar may remove him from the post of NGPDA chairman. "I have told CM to decide," he added.

Sardesai also called on Lobo to discuss the idea of splitting the NGPDA. "I told Sardesai that if he wants somebody else to head the NGPDA then he can appoint someone else," Lobo told TOI.

The state government is contemplating splitting the NGPDA into three PDAs — coastal PDA, Panaji PDA and Greater Panaji PDA, which will include parts of Taleigao and Bambolim.

A government official said that Parrikar is not in favour of having three PDAs in North Goa, but he may consider having two. NGPDA will remain, but there would be separate PDA for Taleigao and Bambolim, the government official said.

The division of the NGPDA is seen as a gift to former St Cruz MLA Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate who helped Parrikar to win the recent bypoll in Panaji, the government official said.