Opposition flags discrepancies; officials forced to rework figures before approval
Opposition councillor Francis Joanes picked holes in the MMC budget estimates placed before the Council for approval. Chairperson Damu Shirodkar replying to a volley of questions on the budget estimates.
MARGAO
In a rare and unprecedented development, the budget meeting of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) for the financial year 2026–27 was temporarily stalled on Tuesday after opposition councillors flagged serious discrepancies in the estimates.
The meeting, chaired by MMC Chairperson Damu Shirodkar, came to a virtual standstill for over two hours as opposition councillors Francis Joanes and Ganashyam Shirodkar questioned what they described as “unrealistic” budget projections.
In what is believed to be a first in recent municipal history, the proceedings could not move forward as officials from the accounts and taxation departments, along with the Chartered Accountant engaged by the Council, were forced to re-examine the figures and address the inconsistencies raised.
The ruling council found itself under pressure for multiple reasons. Notably, the discrepancies surfaced despite the MMC having, for the first time, appointed a Chartered Accountant to prepare the budget following a resolution passed last year. Additionally, the council was reluctant to adjourn the meeting since Tuesday marked the last day of the financial year. Any delay in approving the budget risked halting municipal expenditure in the new fiscal cycle.
Councillor Joanes initiated the debate by questioning how the budget projected a surplus of Rs 20 crore despite the municipality not receiving corresponding government grants. He also criticised the timing of the meeting, pointing out that municipal rules require budget discussions and approvals to be completed in February.
Further intensifying the scrutiny, former councillor Ganashyam Shirodkar joined in, challenging the credibility of the figures presented. As officials and the Chartered Accountant hurriedly reviewed documents to reconcile the numbers, the meeting remained suspended.
Councillor Shagun Naik wondered whether the discrepancies did not come to the notice of the Chairperson and the officials when the budget estimates were placed before the Standing Committee meeting of the Council.
Only after officials claimed to have addressed the concerns raised by the opposition did the session resume, eventually leading to the approval of the budget estimates.
Chairperson forced to drop waste collection tender plan after opposition pushback
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar’s plan to setting in motion the process to re-float the multi-crore tender to outsource door-to-door waste collection contract found no favour with both the ruling and opposition councillors.
At the special meeting held on Tuesday, the chairperson read out the meeting agenda to decide on outsourcing of the door-to-door collection of Margao solid waste collection as per MSW Rules, 2016 in the Margao Municipal jurisdiction, Opposition councillor Ganashyam Shirodkar questioned the rationale behind bringing the point on the agenda when the existing door-to-door garbage collection contract is expiring in July 2026.
Shirodkar further pointed out since the government has conveyed administrative approval for the work for sanction of grant in aid, he wondered why the Council is rushing with the tender when it is due to expire four months from now. Reminding the MMC chairperson that the term of the current Council is set to end in the next few days, Shirodkar said prudence demand that the work of floating the tender should be left to the new Council. “I don’t understand why we have to rush with the tender when the contract is getting expired in July. There is sufficient time for the new Council to take up the work,” he said.
Left with no option, Chairperson Damu Shirodkar later announced his decision to drop the proposal to float the tender.
