MARGAO
The two e-rickshaws which were purchased by the Margao Municipality by flouting codal norms in order to take the city forward and to make the Margao clean are literally corroding at the Municipal garage.
The e-rickshaws were procured by the civic body when the MMC was ruled by the then Margao Civic Alliance stitched by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and his Fatorda counterpart Vijai Sardesai, to wash the city pavements and footpaths, but without inviting tenders.
In fact, the civic body had thrown to the winds the provision of obtaining performance guarantee from the supplier/contractor.
Instead, the civic body had just taken a mere cheque from the contractor, which could not be realized after the contractor blocked the payment.
Since the last one year and half, the e-rickshaws have been gathering rust at the Municipal garage.
Incumbent Chairperson Damu Shirodkar made an attempt by issuing instructions to the civic officials to utilize the vehicles for washing the garbage trucks.
However, the vehicles could not be brought on the road since the administration has been finding it difficult to obtain the spares for the electric vehicles.
