Uproar at Margao civic meet over issue of ‘missing files’

Chairperson, councillors search junior engineer’s cabin for the files

Margao: The Margao Municipal Council meeting on Thursday witnessed a pandemonium on the issue of important files that are allegedly missing from the technical section.

Agitated councillors halted the meeting to check the missing files in the cabin of a junior engineer after there was an allegation that two municipal engineers were purposely keeping the files pending.

The councillors along with the chairperson Lyndon Pereira went to the junior engineer’s cabin to search for the missing files related to construction of a road at Sonsoddo waste site and the material recovery facility (MRF) shed at the IDC-Margao.

Though the Sonsoddo waste site road-related file was not found, what was found was the important MB book, which is supposed to be with the file, and several quotations of the work.

The chairperson and councillors sought an explanation in that regard from the junior engineer in question, who apologised for keeping the MB book in his drawer, which was to be sent with the concerned file. He however added that the file was given to the dealing clerk, who is presently on leave. 

Councillors fumed since the chief officer and the chairperson had given in writing to the court assuring to complete the work of the MRF shed and also since nothing happened regarding the construction of the road at Sonsoddo despite the Rs 40 lakh estimate prepared for it.

 “We will initiate action against the junior engineer for holding the MB book and quotations with him,” said the chairperson after the meeting. 

There are at least half-a-dozen important files missing from the administrative section of the MMC.

The files pertaining to the purchase of garbage trucks, weed cutting machines, construction of three hotels and buildings are currently missing from the offices of MMC.

Meanwhile, a resolution was adopted to hand over four tonnes of waste, which is left untreated on daily basis, to a private agency for treatment in order to save the council’s cost. MMC is presently spending Rs 5.5 lakh on the labourers per month for undertaking treatment of 10 tonnes of waste. The council gets daily 15 tonnes of waste, it was stated.

The councillors however did not consider the proposal of introducing the pay parking system in Margao reportedly keeping in mind the forthcoming election. It was also resolved to impose sanitation and other fees on the occupants of government quarters.

The councillors obtained a resolution to seek legal opinion before levying sanitation fee and house tax on illegal houses within the MMC jurisdiction.  The chief officer also explained about the unspent funds of the council and underlined the need to utilise them at the earliest.

Meanwhile, councillor Siddanth Gadekar complained to the chairperson during the meeting that the daily-wage workers engaged for waste collection by the garbage collection agency were allegedly lifting footwear and other things while going for the door-to-door collection.

“People have complained to me that these workers, mostly outsiders, engaged by the door-to-door waste collection contractor are robbing footwear and other items,” he said, urging that something be done about it.

Taking note of it, the chairperson directed the sanitary inspector to summon the garbage contractor and warn him about it.

The post Uproar at Margao civic meet over issue of ‘missing files’ appeared first on The Navhind Times.