May take photos of MMC and CMC buildings
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It will be two months on January 5 since the new Municipal Councils had taken over the reigns of office on November 5. While the two Municipal bodies in Salcete “ Margao and Cuncolim “ have nothing to boast about during these last two months, both the Councils have been hit by administrative problems affecting the delivery to the people, finds The Goan
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Cuncolim civic body, CO in cold war over issues
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It’s not even two months since the new Cuncolim civic body under the leadership of Chairperson Lavita Mascarenhas took over office on November 5, but a bitter cold war is underway between the new body and the Chief Officer Pandarinath Naik. There seemed no love lost between the Chief Officer and the CMC Vice-Chairperson Mario Moraes since the new council took office nearly two months ago.
Moraes has accused the Chief Officer for banning him from entering his chamber, while Pandarinath said he does not want to entertain people in his office, who are abusive in nature and who does not know how to respect the officers.
The Chief Officer has blamed the council for not taking him into confidence and acting unilaterally in matters pertaining to civic administration. On the other hand, Moraes has accused the Chief Officer for actions allegedly detrimental to the interests of the civic body.
The first ordinary meeting of the Cuncolim Municipal Council is scheduled on Monday with the Chairperson listing a number of pressing issues on the meeting agenda. A day ahead of the meeting, the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and some councillors met on Sunday how to go about in conducting the meeting agenda. The Chief Officer, on the other hand, informed that he was not taken into confidence by the council before finalising the meeting agenda. Nor, did the council discuss with him the issues that would be deliberated at Monday's meeting. He claimed that while he has come to know from sources that the timing of Monday's meeting has been changed by the council, the council deem fit to keep posted on the decision.
Incidentally, while the ruling council is expected to go after Pandarinath’s head and take up his transfer with the Urban Development Minister, the Chief Officer has disclosed plans to call on the Director of Municipal Administration Elvis Gomes in a day or two before planning his future course of action.
Says CMC Vice-Chairperson, Mario Moraes: “The council is preparing a chargesheet why the Chief Officer should be transferred out. He does not refer to the council any circulars and says that he is only accountable to the DMA and the government."
Pandarinath says that the council has been repeatedly trying to interfere in the Municipal administration and has been keeping him in the dark even on administrative matters.
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Vacant posts in Margao civic body derail performance
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The only visible notable in the Margao Municipal administration since the new body headed by new Chairperson Dr Babita Angle Prabhudesai took over the reigns on November 5 was the government’s decision to appoint a full-fledged Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik to Margao.
The posting of a full-time Chief Officer, however, has not helped streamline the administration during the last two months, with crucial posts in the taxation and administrative section lying vacant for want of government action.
Otherwise, consider this. The Municipal taxation is headed by an Accounts cum Administrative Officer (AAO), who continues to hold additional charge of Mormugao Municipal Council. The AAO works three days in Margao and reports for duties at Mormugao on the next two days, leaving the Margao Municipal administration to a halt.
That’s not all. The post of the Accounts and Taxation Officer, left vacant after the promotion of the incumbent officer Mr Elekar as AAO, has not been filled till date. The post of tax superintendent is also lying vacant ever since the time when the Director of Municipal Administration had placed then officer under suspension.
The two posts of Municipal superintendents are also lying vacant. Requests made by the MMC to the government to draft suitable officers to head the two posts have not changed the ground reality till date.
While the new council had vowed to initiate recoveries, the exercise has hit a big block for want of a government-appointed Recovery Officer.
Sources in the Municipal body said that the appointment of a full-fledged Chief Officer has failed to bring about the desired change in the Municipal administration with most of the crucial administration and revenue posts lying vacant for a long time now.
Says Dr Babita Angle Prabhudessai: “The elected body has only a supervisory role over the Municipal Administration. But, the wheels of administration has hit a block for want of officers. We have come across situations wherein we could not act for want of key officials in key positions in the civic body."
