MARGAO
In an interesting development, the government has shunted out the Chief Officer of Margao Municipal Council as the Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO), Goa Industrial Development Corporation.
Director of Settlement and Land Records, Johnson Fernandes has been given the additional charge of the Margao civic body.
What prompted the government to effect a change in the MMC administrative head became a talking point in the corridors of the civic body and outside, as Agnelo has not even completed five months in office at the Margao municipality.
That the Chief Officer has been served an order of transfer on a day when the Municipal election code of conduct came into force has only raised many an eyebrow, indicating some urgency and haste in transferring Agnelo from the MMC.
A glance at the transfer order issued by Under Secretary, Personnel-II Vishal Kundaikar shows that the two officers have been asked to complete handing over and taking over process with immediate effect and submit compliance.
Agnelo had assumed charge of the Margao Municipal Council on October 5 in place of then Chief Officer Ajit Panchwadkar. During his brief stint in office, the Chief Officer tried to tone up the administration and provide people-friendly administration.
Stressing on transparency, Agnelo had kept open the door of the Chief Officer’s office, allowing people to enter his cabin without any obstruction.
Caught in the bitter controversy over the bio-methanation plants, Agnelo had preferred to tread a neutral path, opting to go in for just one bio-methanation plant as against the three sanctioned by the Department of Urban Development and seven plants mooted by the MMC and the Goa Waste Management Corporation.
It is a sheer coincidence that when the High Powered Coordination Committee (HPCC) headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had almost come to an unanimous decision on Monday, pitching for only one bio-methanation plant initially in Margao, the government issued Agnelo’s transfer order from the MMC to the SLAO, GIDC.
Sources said Agnelo was not too happy in his short stint in the MMC and was keen to return to his old posting as the Chie Executive Officer of South Goa Zilla Panchayat, before the government gave him the posting as SLAO, GIDC.
