the goan I network
MARGAO
When Babita Prabhudesai took over the reigns of Margao Municipal Council exactly four years ago in 2015 after the Margao Civic Alliance floated by the two MLAs, Digambar Kamat and Vijai Sardesai stormed to power in the civic body, hopes were raised that the city-based doctor may be an answer to the ills plaguing the commercial capital.
That’s not all. When the Goa Forward joined the BJP-led coalition government as a key partner, expectations ran high that Margao’s perennial issues, including the Sonsodo imbroglio, the burning parking and traffic issues, et al may be finally resolved.
The ground reality, however, speaks otherwise.
The Sonsodo imbroglio still remains unresolved and the multi-level parking project is yet to see the light of day.
As Babita exits after presiding over the affairs of the civic body for the last four years, the MMC Chairperson however says the council had initiated a host of measures during her stint in office to solve the garbage and parking issues, reassuring that these projects will take shape in the coming days.
While Margao Municipal Council came from behind to post impressive revenue recoveries during the last four years, thanks to a coordinated approach by Chief Officers Johnson Fernandes and Sidhivinayak Naik during their stint in office, the burning issues of garbage and parking still remain unresolved.
That the High Court has barred the MMC from open dumping, leaving the civic body struggling for answers on solid waste management is a clear indicator that all’s not well on the garbage front.
Babita, however, begged to differ.
“We tried to fine tune door-to-door waste collection, besides giving a big push for waste segregation. This is evident by the amount of segregated waste going to the treatment plant and the dry waste for baling. To streamline baling of plastic waste, the MMC has ordered additional baling machines and is scouting for space to set up these machines,” she
said.
Babita added: “The government is in the process of working out a solution for Sonsodo, but it will take some time. To tide over the burning issue, we have decided to get the bio-methane containerized plants to tackle the waste. These plants are expected to take shape in the coming months.”
On the multi-level pay parking project, the foundation stone for which was launched by the previous council around four years ago, work has still to commence.
Babita, however, attributes the delay to GST implementation. “All these issues have been finally resolved. We expect the multi-level parking project to be tendered soon and work should hopefully resume in the New Year,” she added.
On the administrative front, Babita claimed that efforts were made to tone up and streamline the administration, though the chairperson was accused in many quarters for having an iron-grip over the administration. She, however, said the council under her leadership has for the first time come out with an insurance scheme for the municipal workers in the event of accidents while
on duty.
‘Resignation has nothing to do with my performance’
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai has asserted that she has quit office on political reasons, asserting that her resignation has nothing to do with her performance during her four year stint in office.
“My resignation is purely political. I have quit office because of the decision taken by my party in the larger interest of the party. it has nothing to do with my performance,” Babita asserted.
