CANACONA
Alleging misappropriation of funds at Canacona Municipal Council (CMC), a councillor and some residents have demanded action against two municipal staffers and disqualification of a sitting councillor in the matter.
Addressing a news conference in Canacona, Ward 11 Councillor Sara Naik Dessai alleged that two CMC officers along with the then CMC chairperson and sitting councillor Nitu Dessai were involved in irregularities amounting to Rs 13,22,412 towards non-executed development works in a single ward of Canacona municipality.
“Soon after my election, some residents requested me to expedite some long-pending works. I was shocked to learn the said works, which were resolved by CMC in 2014, had actually been recorded as completed and bills to the contractor were also cleared.”
“In reality, I found no work whatsoever had been done regarding the three works of constructing a drain at Nirakar Temple, Bhikarwada (Rs 2,91,987), constructing a drain at Sawantwada (Rs 4,95,306) and reconstructing a drain at Colomb-Sawantwada to Tembewada (Rs 5,23,216).”
“Information under RTI revealed that tenders were called for these three works in January 2016 and one contractor was issued the work order in November 2017,” said Councillor Sara Naik Dessai.
She alleged the contractor never began or executed these three projects, but received payments of Rs 2,94,497, Rs 4,98,673 and Rs 5,29,242, totally amounting to Rs 13, 22,412 on August 28, 2020.
She has now filed a complaint with CMC Chairperson Simon Rebello.
“We had already taken up this matter with the various government agencies like DMA, and other departments concerned. If we do not get justice, we will also take the matter to court.”
Sara Dessai also alleged the CMC, just before the last municipal elections, had allotted house numbers without following proper procedures.
“Even a day before municipal polls, approximately two dozen house numbers were allotted in a single municipal ward. We want all those house numbers to be revoked immediately and re-allotted by following proper procedures,” she said.
A resident, Aniket Desai, who also filed a complaint with the CMC Chairperson, addressed a separate press conference on Sunday, stating that then CMC Chairperson Nitu Dessai, as chairperson of the CMC standing committee, was responsible for approving and ascertaining the execution of all three projects.
Aniket Desai has sought disciplinary action against the two CMC staffers and disqualification of Nitu Desai Desai as present councillor of CMC. Sanija Naik Desai, Sahill Desai and Karuna Naikgaunkar were also present at the news conference.
