THE GOAN NETWORK
SANGUEM
Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the election and immediate no-confidence motion against the chairperson of Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) on April 1, the council had its meeting on Monday to discuss issues pertaining to the town.
The meeting, which was chaired by CCMC Chairperson Balkrishna Hodarkar, was attended by seven of the 15 councillors and Chief Officer Ajay Gaude.
Besides Hodarkar, other councillors who attended the council meeting included were Pradip Naik, Aparna Prabhudessai, Mangaldas Ghadi, Sushant Naik, Yolanda Pereira and Clementina Fernandes.
Welcoming the councillors at the meeting, Hodarkar said the meeting was convened to chalk out development works in the municipality and to discuss pre-monsoon works in all 15 wards of the council.
The councillors expressed the need to employ more daily workers to undertake pre-monsoon works like cleaning of gutters and drains in the municipality.
At the meeting, the councillors also decided to issue fresh tender for Sopo tax collection for the next 10 months.
They also decided to issue a fresh tender for door-to-door garbage collection drive, as the existing tender had expired but was being periodically extended for three months to collect door-to-door garbage in the municipality.
Councillors also discussed the need to declare the footpath from Rohini Shoe Mart to Omkar Inn as pay-parking for the benefit of shop owners in the locality, as two-wheelers are haphazardly being parked in the area and it has affected business activities of shop owners.
When contacted, Hodarkar said he could conduct the council meeting as seven of the 15 councillors were present at the meeting, more than the quorum of 5 councillors needed to hold the meeting.
No-trust motion on April 16
SANGUEM: The no-confidence motion against Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) Chairperson Balkrishna Hodarkar is set to come up for discussion on April 16.
According to sources, the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) Development has issued a fresh notice to councillors to decide on the no-confidence motion on April 16.
The DMA had earlier stated that the no-confidence motion moved by them could not be considered hours after Hodarkar was elected as chairperson, as the proceedings of the special meeting to elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson had not yet been received.
When contacted, Hodarkar said he was aware of the meeting to discuss the no-confidence motion on April 16. “I am ready to face the no-confidence motion irrespective of the outcome,” said Hodarkar.
The BJP had been left red-faced at the CCMC, when the BJP-backed candidate Vishwas Pandu Sawant lost to Hodarkar in a secret ballot by 8-7 votes even though the party had 10 of the 15 councillors in its panel, indicating that three candidates in the BJP panel had voted for Hodarkar.
Hours after the rival candidate, Hodarkar, was elected as CCMC chairperson, 10 newly elected councillors -- Tony Coutinho (Ward 6), Damodar Bhende (Ward 2), Pramod Naik (Ward 1), Vishwas Sawant (Ward 13), Jasmine Braganza (Ward 5), Rhucha Vasta (Ward 15), Reema Alise (Ward 9), Yolanda Pereira (Ward 8) and Carmelina Morais (Ward 10) and Sushant Naik (Ward 7) -- moved a no-confidence motion against him.
Power Minister and Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral was quick to slam some councillors of CCMC for their lack of ethics and principles, after Hodarkar was elected chairperson, but downplayed the incident and said it was not a setback to him and that, he would continue his work in Curchorem as he did not depend on the CCMC.
