the goan I network
MAPUSA
A seesaw battle between the Mapusa civic body and the government appears to be taking a toll on the development of the city.
While certain development grants have been released to the civic body, the finance department appears to be chocking the municipal council by refusing to release salary grants due to it.
For the last three years, Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has not been receiving salary grants even as the civic body has been tiding over the crisis by paying the staff from the municipal funds.
From 2014, MMC has not received salary grants amounting to Rs 4.65 crore.
The salary grant comprises full salary to the common cadre staff and the DA component for the other civic employees.
The chief officer, administrative officer, municipal engineer and the four junior engineers in the technical section, accounts taxation officer and the accountant all belong to the common cadre.
Sources informed that government has also failed to release development grants to the civic body for the last two years.
Sources further said some development grants were not released because the civic body failed to produce utility certificates.
According to MMC Chairperson Rohan Kavlekar, the civic body totally relied on finance department to carry out development works.
"The performance of the municipalities totally depends on finance department. Only when our files are cleared by the finance (department) then we can do any (development) work. So finance department is an important channel...," Kavlekar told The Goan.
He said government departments were under the impression that Mapusa civic body was parking funds received from the government in fixed deposits.
"They have a query that whatever funds are released, we keep them in the deposit term and therefore fail to produce utility certificates. But that is not so. There are some technical difficulties...," he said further adding, "Many times maximum work of a particular project gets completed but since 10 to 15 percent works remain pending there is delay in sending the utility certificate."
Former chairperson, Sandip Falari informed that barring for a couple of cases, MMC was prompt in issuing utility certificates.
"Overall, our record is quite good on utilization of funds," Falari said.
The good news is that Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar has promised to look into the matter and release the salary grants.
"In his first meeting in Mapusa, the chief minister has said he will look into the issue and release the funds that have been pending for last three years," Falari said.
