the goan I network
MARGAO
Absence of Margao Municipal Chief Officer and the Chairperson in their chambers on Tuesday morning left City Fathers and citizens fuming.
Acting Chairperson Tito Cardozo, who is holding charge for Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai, who is presently on leave, was conspicuous by his absence on Tuesday morning. Coincidentally, the Officer on Special Duty engaged by the civic body to assist the chairperson, was also not found in his chair.
And, making matters worse was the absence of the Chief Officer, Sidhivinayak Naik, leaving the City Fathers and the citizens with no avenue to take their grievances.
A fuming councillor Damu Naik told the media that an A class Municipality cannot afford to have all the top persons absent at one time. “Normally, we take up our grievances with the Chairperson, but Tito did not turn up in his office on Tuesday morning. When we decided to approach the Chief Officer, his chamber was found locked,” Damu said.
He said that the councillors are being approached by citizens with matters such as income certificates, adding that absence of key people should in no way hamper the administration.
When the media later asked Chief Officer Sidhivinayak Naik to shed light on his absence in the morning, he said he had to go to Panaji to attend a meeting called by the government.
“As Chief Officer heading the Margao Municipal Council, I had no option than to attend the meeting. Normally, I am in my office, except at times when I had to attend to the High Court or discuss with our Municipal lawyer in Panaji,” Naik added.
