Rose garden raises a stink, its thorns prick civic body

PANAJI: A rather simple attempt by the city fathers to give the Salvador Souza garden, popularly called the Rose Garden, a makeover has not only struggled to see the light of day but has left the Corporation of the city of Panaji (CCP) with an egg on its face.

Former MP Shantaram Naik, who passed away earlier this year, had offered the CCP funds under the Member of Parliament local area development (MPLAD) scheme. Naik demitted office in 2017, and, as per procedure, an account of the funds disbursed under the MPLAD funds were sought.

“As per norms, MPLAD funds were entrusted with the North Goa collectorate, and collector Levinson Martins asked CCP for the utilization certificates to prove that the funds had been properly used,” said a senior official with the collectorate.

Not only has the CCP failed to complete the project in the stipulated time, it also handed over the project to Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) without prior approval from the nodal district authority, said a councillor. Out of the sanctioned funds, Rs 37 lakh was disbursed to CCP, of which the civic body spent around Rs 17-19 lakh.

Under the MPLAD scheme, the role of the MP is limited to recommendation of works. Thereafter, it is the responsibility of the district authority to sanction, execute and complete the works recommended within the stipulated time. “The collector has asked them to refund the money if they have not completed the project,” said additional collector for North Goa, Vikas Gaunekar.

On November 30, CCP commissioner Ajit Roy informed the councillors that “a resolution has to be passed to refund the money” to the MPLAD account. “After the work was tendered by CCP, the contractor left the project midway and the work was then given to GSIDC without informing the collector’s office,” Roy said.

The garden itself, opposite Geeta bakery in the city, is nearly complete. Its unique feature is a 2,000 kg granite ball which floats on water using Bernoulli’s principle. The seating and decorations are made of black granite, while pavers have been installed on the footpaths. The garden was once famous for types of roses and was considered “posh” garden, but after Liberation, it lost the sheen due to poor maintenance. It has lately been given a facelift, with shade to protect visitors during the monsoon.