MARGAO
Extending all-out government cooperation to newly-elected Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar in addressing issues plaguing the commercial capital, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has told the new Margao civic chief and the team of councillors to focus on resolving the Sonsodo
imbroglio.
Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane has also assured Damu Shirodkar and the ruling group of councillors of all cooperation in resolving burning issues.
The Chief Minister handed out the assurance after the newly-elected MMC chairperson along with ruling BJP-backed councillors and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat called on him at his official residence on Friday noon.
Saying that the primary focus of the new Council should be on Sonsodo and how to get rid of the mess, the Chief Minister has assured his full backing to the newly-chairperson in addressing the problem.
The newly-elected chairperson is believed to have sought help and cooperation from the Chief Minister on the question of roping in Municipal administrative staff for BLO duties. He is believed to have impressed upon the Chief Minister to spare the UDCs and LDCs from BLO duties, saying the administration has been affected by the staff reporting for BLO duties.
The Chief Minister has told the MMC chairperson to prepare and submit a list of civic officials who have been drafted for the BLO duties, promising to provide relief to the civic body.
The courtesy visit by the newly-elected chairperson and his team of councillors along with Margao MLA Digambar Kamat assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the Chief Minister personally taking interest in the election of the new MMC chairperson before bringing about the Ordinance doing away with secret voting for the Municipal chairperson.
