MAPUSA
Newly-elected Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson Priya Mishal asserted that the “hafta” charge against some councillors was fake and vowed to take action against complaints on corruption in the civic body.
Mishal, on Tuesday, also showed keen interest in the “smart city” concept and planned to develop Mapusa along those lines to take care of the myriad problems facing the town.
“The allegations that some councillors are demanding hafta are fake. We (councillors) are not involved in those types of things. But if we receive any complaints of corruption against the staff or anyone, then action will follow,” Mishal said.
Around three months ago, the Mapusa civic body was haunted by a corruption charge after the market sopo contractor alleged that three councillors belonging to the ruling group were demanding Rs 2 lakh per month as hafta while threatening to terminate his contract.
Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvoikar had issued a notice to the sopo contractor even as the issue was hotly debated in political circles.
Speaking further, Mishal informed that she wanted to develop Mapusa into a smart city as funds allotted in the project will help in taking up several pending works.
“We will try to focus on the Smart City proposal. Under the proposal, we get funds of Rs 1 crore every year which will help in taking up development works,” she said.
She said resolving the garbage collection issue will also be her top priority as the waste collection was not happening as desired.
“Keeping Mapusa clean will be my topmost priority. But this can be worked out only when we can put our plan of outsourcing garbage collection into action. We are working on it,” she said.
The Chairperson-elect also hinted at tightening the civic administration to make it people-friendly. She said the administration was working fine, but there were a few issues that have to be worked on.
“Many complaints are coming. We will look into it,” she said.
Earlier, the Presiding Officer Gurudas Desai, declared Priya Mishal as elected unopposed chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council, as there was only one nomination for the post.
“Since we have received two nominations in one person’s name, I declare Priya Mishal, elected unopposed as the chairperson of the Mapusa Municipal Council,” Dessai said.
All 20 councillors were present for the special meeting to elect the chairperson.
Meanwhile, as reported in The Goan earlier, Vice-Chairperson Chandrashekar Benkar has resigned from his post. Councillor Viraj Phadke is expected to take over as the new Vice-Chairperson.
