MAPUSA
The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) is facing a manpower crunch with coronavirus spreading fast through its ranks, as several employees including supervisors and market inspectors have tested positive over the last few weeks.
Apart from the administrative staff, several field workers have also been Covid-19 infected which has affected the work to a certain extent.
Besides, families of a few employees have also been affected and so they have been home quarantined.
Interestingly, in spite of the shortage of man-power crunch, some of the civic staff has been borrowed by other departments.
At least three of municipal staff have been assigned duty at the urban health centre while some municipal workers have been deputed to the deputy collector and the mamlatdar office.
Some of the civic workers have also been deputed to the North Goa District Hospital (Asilo).
The civic body also does not have the service of Accounts Taxation Officer and the accountant, both of whom are on leave.
MMC Chief Officer Clen Madeira informed that they are managing the show with the limited staff as not many people come to the municipal council because of the lockdown-like restrictions.
“Since the market is closed and there is no much trade happening, it’s manageable. But when supervisors are infected, we face some problems. We cannot say it is all good. So far, we have managed to run the show,” Madeira said.
He said since the municipal council comes under essential services and considering the fast approaching monsoon, the civic body has to work with full force.
He also said despite the shortage of staff, garbage collection was going on quite well in the town.
“There are some hiccups but we are managing so far,” he said.
Incidentally, the head clerk in the Mapusa municipality is retiring on May 31.
