The Sanguem municipality was showered with goodies andgrants worth Rs 14 crores by then Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao fora new market complex and a new swanky muncipal building under GSUDA.
The intention was to woo the councillors and the voters torevolve around his son Yuri Alemao who contested elections from Sanguem duringthe Assembly polls.
But Alemao’s shock loss to Subhah Paldessai, the new BJPcandidate saw a change in the Sanguem Muncipal Council.
Alemao's close aide, Sanjay Raikar, a veteran councillor andsix time chairperson was overthrown after he caused much embarrassment to thecurrent BJP government.
Sanjay had erected a banner thanking Joaquim and Yuri Alemaofor a high mast light pole, which was being inaugurated by Urban DevelopmentMinister, Francis D'Souza.
Soon afterwards, in May 2012 the ten-member council withdrewsupport to him and shifted their allegiance to Chaguna Salgaocar, who todayshares the support of the new MLA and seven councillors.
“I wanted to see that mining profits would be channelizedback to the town. I also ensured that all money sanctioned by the stategovernment for development projects is equivalent to earning from mining fromthat area," stated former Chairperson Sanjay Raikar.
The current Chairperson, Chaguna blames his predecessor fornot resolving garbage collection problem and revenue gathering.
“We collected annual sopo in March, which was a failure ofthe previous council even as revenues in Sanguem municipality have dried up. Weare yet to acquire land for a garbage unit but we are now completing themunicipality rest house from the Rs 1.5 crore funds sanctioned to us by the DMAduring Digambar Kamat's time,” Chaguna said.
