MAPUSA
While residents of Mapusa continue to grapple with poor civic services, the focus within the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) appears to be on political maneuvering rather than governance.
In just little over three years, the municipality is set to elect its fourth chairperson, highlighting the political understanding within the ruling group to rotate the top post annually.
The constant change in chairpersons leaves little chance to those at the helm to implement crucial policy decisions.
A special meeting has been scheduled for Friday to elect the new chairperson, with nominations open until noon on February 27.
Sources suggest that former chairperson Priya Mishal is likely to return to the post, as the opposition lacks the numbers to field a strong candidate.
Civic woes take a backseat
Despite the frequent leadership changes, key issues plaguing Mapusa remain unresolved.
Poor roads, irregular garbage collection, inefficient municipal staff and bureaucratic delays have frustrated residents.
Complaints about slow processing of civic work continue to mount, while the absence of a full-time chief officer has further hampered the administration.
Currently, the chief officer holds additional charge and visits the council only on alternate days, a situation that residents argue is inadequate for a municipality of Mapusa’s size.
“For a large municipality like Mapusa, we need a full-time chief officer. This part-time arrangement only makes life more difficult for citizens,” a local resident remarked.
Councillor Shashank Narvarkar echoed these concerns, stating that garden waste in his ward has not been cleared for six months due to a shortage of vehicles.
“Nothing is moving in the municipality. I have informed my constituents that I am unable to assist them because of the inefficiencies within the civic body,” he admitted.
Political infighting hampers progress
Outgoing MMC chairperson, Nutan Bhicholkar, added another dimension to the dysfunction by alleging that she received no cooperation from fellow councillors or the local MLA.
This lack of unity has only deepened the governance crisis in Mapusa, where political rivalries often take precedence over public service.
While councillors play a game of “passing the parcel” with the chairperson’s seat, Mapusa’s residents are left watching with bated breath, hoping that a change in leadership might finally lead to a shift in work culture and improved civic services.
However, with persistent administrative inefficiencies and no clear long-term strategy, the question remains: Will another change at the helm bring real solutions, or will it be yet another round of political musical chairs?
Mapusa MLA bats for stability,
calls for full-time chief officer
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Deputy Speaker and Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza has expressed his preference for a single person to serve as chairperson of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) for a full five-year term, stating it would ensure better coordination and efficient governance.
However, he acknowledged that political compulsions led to the current arrangement of yearly chairperson rotations.
“I personally support a five-year tenure for the chairperson, but due to circumstances, we had to implement the yearly rotation plan as decided by party officials,” D’Souza said.
He also emphasised the need for a full-time chief officer for the council to streamline operations, particularly in resolving issues related to shop leases and renewals.
He revealed that a merchant had suggested forming a dedicated team to handle lease renewals and transfers within blood relations, a proposal he has urged the council to consider.
D’Souza assured councillors of his continuous support, refuting allegations by a former chairperson that he had not provided adequate assistance. He expects the situation to stabilise within a month.
