MARGAO
Pre-monsoon showers lashed the commercial capital on Tuesday evening on the eve of the Margao Municipal Council’s plan to kick-start pre-monsoon works in the city on Wednesday at a whopping cost of Rs 16 lakh.
It’s still unclear how the civic body would go about the work of pre-monsoon works when the pre-monsoon showers have hit the city and the monsoons are likely to advance this season.
Unlike in the past, the council has awarded the work of supplying workers to undertake the pre-monsoon works, mostly related to desilting of the drains and gutters to private players at a cost of Rs 16 lakhs, which included lifting and transportation of the silt.
A municipal engineer pointed out that the exercise will turn futile if the rains start early. In fact, the engineer pointed out that the ruling council will have to take a call to abandon the pre-monsoon works mid-way if the monsoons advance this year.
MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira, when contacted to shed light on the pre-monsoon works when the city has already been experiencing pre-monsoon showers, said the pre-monsoon works will kick start as per scheduled on Wednesday. “Let the contractors start the work as per schedule. In the event, the monsoon advances early as per the predictions, we can take a call later”, he said.
The council had defended its decision to start the pre-monsoon works this year, citing the intervening election code of conduct and the time needed to obtain sanction from the government for the works.
Meanwhile, MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira along with the city fathers inaugurated an electric vehicle provided by the government to the municipality. He also inaugurated a forklift, procured by the civic body from the Finance Commission funds.
Lyndon later told the media the electric vehicle will be used by the officials to travel to Panaji for official work. While the electric vehicle has cost the exchequer Rs 17 lakh, the forklift has been purchased at a cost of around Rs seven lakh.
