the goan I network
MARGAO
In his petition filed before DMA Ashok Kumar, the CMC vice-chairperson has lodged his complaint against CMC Chairperson Lavita Mascarenhas, Chief Officer Shanker Gaunkar and Jr engineer Nitin Kotharkar for alleged dereliction of duties by failing to safeguard the municipal property recorded in the name of the Chief Officer of the Cuncolim Municipal Council.
Mario, who was in the news last week when his attempt to dislodge Chairperson Lavita was foiled by the opposition five-member group in the 12-member civic body, has pointed out in his petition that the CMC officials should be punished if they cannot uphold the law of the land and protect the municipal property. “The CMC should have initiated action to take possession of the acquired land since the occupier has lost court cases and has started commercial activities on the land in question,” he added.
Mario’s petition assumes significance as it comes less than a week after Chairperson Lavita appears firmly in the saddle after the Joaquim Alemao-backed group in the CMC failed to dislodge her from office. Questions, however, have come to the fore as to why Mario has petitioned to the DMA against the occupier of the acquired land now when he was very much part of the ruling civic body over the last one year headed by Chairperson Lavita Mascarenhas.
Interestingly, the acquired land in question was acquired by the civic body more than half a decade ago, but the land is yet to come into possession of the civic body for lack of political will on the part of successive MLAs as well as the local City Fathers.
