the goan I network
MAPUSA
Admitting its failure to keep the market clean, the Mapusa civic body has now initiated process to outsource the maintenance of the fish and vegetable markets in Mapusa.
Locals, however, felt that the decision would incur financial burden while questioning the status of the bloated civic workforce.
The chief officer of Mapusa Municipal Council has invited tenders for outsourcing of door to door collection of municipal solid waste from municipal market and housekeeping of vegetable market and fish market complex.
The estimated cost for the service has been fixed at Rs 39.05 lakh per year.
Last date for online submission of tender document has been fixed on April 2 while the tender will be opened on April 4.
MMC Chairperson Rohan Kavlekar had recently admitted that the civic workers were unable to keep the fish and vegetable clean
“The council has decided to outsource the cleanliness of the market in the interest of the people who visit the market,” Kavlekar said.
Failure to maintain cleanliness in fish and vegetable market by in-house civic workers had put Mapusa municipality in a fix.
Recently, a picture of the fish market walls with red betel nut (paan) stains went viral on social media giving the municipality a bad name.
To control the damage, the civic body swung into action and immediately cleaned the red stains on the walls.
The drainage around the fish market is also a source of concern. Many times due to choking of the drains the drains overflow creating a nuisance around the building.
But not all are happy with the civic body’s move to outsource the cleanliness of the fish and veggie market.
“Outsourcing will be a burden on the municipality both financially and in terms of fixing accountability,” said Adv Mahesh Rane, a resident of Mapusa.
Questioning the status of the 400-odd civic workers with the municipality, Rane wondered where the workers were posted.
“It clearly indicates the civic body cannot manage its civic workforce. It also shows the administration’s total failure to control the workers,” he added.
