MARGAO
Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik has expressed the need for effecting necessary changes in the Municipal Act so as to make councillors more powerful than the Chief Officer in any municipal dispensation.
Addressing a gathering while inaugurating the newly installed gymnasium equipments at Chandrawaddo-Fatorda launched under MPLAD scheme, Naik urged the MLA Vijai Sardesai to take steps for effecting the changes in the Municipal Act.
Naik felt the councillors must have powers in the Municipal set up just like the MLAs have powers in the Assembly. “Power has to be in the hands of the councillors and they have to decide on the projects they desire,” Naik added. “Now, the CO decides,” he remarked.
He said he is in favour of having a gymnasium in every taluka. Naik also informed that a gymnasium will be launched in Cuncolim soon.
Addressing mediapersons on ths sidelines of this function, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, said the gym was in existence 15 years ago and the plaque of this gym was removed one fine day after which the gym was converted into a laboratory of a private educational institution of a politician.
Sardesai claimed after he came back to power, he managed to get the gym in SAG possession and approached the Rajya Sabha MP thereafter for a sanction of Rs 22 lakh under MPLAD scheme. “We have also managed a sanction of Rs 45 lakh under ST scheme for its further improvement. This tender is passed,” Sardesai stated, while informing that a volleyball court could also be planned on the Municipal land adjoining this gym.
