VALPOI
The financial situation of Valpoi Municipal Council has been on a decline and as a result, the last few months have seen hurdles to paying salaries to the civic workers.
The issue of non-payment of salaries to the employees has come to the fore over the last four months. However, it has come to light that the municipal board, which has been in power for the last ten years, has ignored efforts to generate revenue. Valpoi Municipality is of C grade.
The emphasis was on revenue generation in the municipal area at one end of North Goa. For this, it was necessary to pay attention to the implementation of projects at different levels and generate revenue from it, but for the last ten years, it has been consistently ignored.
To generate revenue, two projects were set up in front of the administrative building, and a new market project in the city.
The project was set up under the State government's Urban Development Plan.
However, it has come to light that the project is not being used adequately for revenue generation and as a result, the financial condition of the municipality is deteriorating.
Local MLA Vishwajit Rane set up a new project near the old market in Valpoi town. It was expected that the shops constructed through the project would be leased out and in turn, generate good revenue. However, due to the improper construction of the project, the expected revenue has not been generated.
The shopkeepers on the ground floor of the building have been hit by customers as the city's transportation system is not smooth.
It is difficult to park in front of the shop and
as a result, the shops on the first floor are empty.
The municipality tried to lease the shops but it was noticed that the response from the customers was not as expected as the shops on the ground floor do not get customers.
Streamlining of the traffic system is the need of the hour or else the possibility of closure of existing shops in the project cannot be ruled out.
The situation is no different at the administrative building in front of the municipal office. When the project was set up, several floors in the building were leased. However, customers are not ready to enter the building and as a result, many handed over the shops to the municipality.
Today, about 80 per cent of the shops are completely shut.
The vacant shop needed to be auctioned off again, but the municipal management has ignored the process.
This has been the case for almost two years now. At present, there is not a single satisfactory project in the Valpoi municipal area. This has completely worsened the condition of the municipality.
At present, the finance of the municipality is only dependent on the sopo collection.
