the goan I network
VASCO
The council had taken pride when it began pre-monsoon works in the beginning of April, but apart from the main city area and few wards in New Vaddem, many other wards are yet to witness any works.
One major work in ward 10 involves the desilting of a nullah which brings silt from Mangor slums and deposits it at the lake near the church school at Baina.
During the first shower each year, the silt flows over the road and makes it difficult and dangerous for motorists.
“The sludge-like silt also creates problems for school children and it is only when residents make a noise, the council reacts and clears the same. We are at the receiving end during the start of the monsoon as the entire silt of the Mangor slum area overflows on the road causing hardships for people in the area,” said Ramesh Desai.
Residents of wards 7 and 8 also complained about a delay in the pre-monsoon works and suspect that since these wards are represented by non-BJP councillors, the BJP-led council was reluctant to carry out the pre-monsoon works.
When contacted, Mormugao Municipal Council Chief Officer Deepali Naik claimed that the council has already appointed a contractor to undertake pre-monsoon works in all wards of the council.
Asked if she was satisfied with the pre-monsoon works carried out so far, Naik replied in the negative, but assured all works would be completed before the monsoon season begins.
“The contract was awarded on May 5 and the work will be completed before the onset of the monsoon,” said Naik, when asked if the contractor had presented a status report on pre-monsoon works undertaken in different wards.
Admitting that the council has been facing financial difficulties in paying workers, Naik sought to blame the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) for not releasing funds for pre-monsoon works in advance.
“The DMA knows that pre-monsoon works are carried our every year. It should should give the municipal councils a free hand to carry out the works in advance,” said Naik.
When the issue of silt-filled nullah near the church school at Baina was brought to her notice, Naik quickly blamed the councillor Dhanphal Swamy for not taking interest in the ward’s developmental works. “He (Swamy) is always seen with either registration of birth certificates, income certificates or resident certificates, but has never come to me for ward development works,” said Naik.
