MARGAO
Taking cognizance of the notice of the Shadow Council for Margao alleging a multi crore scam in the waste management system of the Margao Municipal Council, Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes put up a note to the concerned engineers and supervisors to confirm in writing that the bills of the two agencies were certified upon the agencies fulfilling all the requirements.
The SCM had served upon the Chief Officer and Chairperson of MMC a notice to refrain from making any further payments to the agencies appointed by the Council for the waste management, alleging that the bills were inflated and were not commensurate with the services provided by them.
Appreciating the Chief Officer's attempt to bring out the truth by virtue of the note to the concerned officials, SCM Convener Savio Coutinho stated that it will be soon revealed how the Council treasury was being emptied by this dubious scheme of the previous council, which was incidentally controlled by the same mentors as of today.
He claimed officials of the Council certified the bills only on the basis of the door to door waste collection, however the other responsibilities as laid down in the contract were conveniently ignored.
The tender was designed considering the fact that waste collection would be carried out during the morning session, and sweeping and cleaning the ward's would be taken up during the evening session, Coutinho revealed. However as vested interests were behind this scheme, the responsibility of sweeping and cleaning work was compromised in return of sizable gratification, Coutinho charged.
"We have already submitted copies of the notice to the office of the Chief Secretary and the DMA," Coutinho informed.
