MAPUSA
Questioning the wrong estimate made by engineers regarding renewal of a construction licence of a housing project, Mapusa Councillor Prakash Bhivshet said there was absolutely no administration in the engineering section of the Mapusa Municipal Council and the technical staff was not working in the interest of Mapusa.
Bhivshet also alleged that engineers were more interested in what benefit they would get while discharging their duties.
“How did the engineers prepare a wrong estimate so as to allow the project owner to approach the court and get a decision in his favour? These engineers are not working in the interest of Mapusa but only for their personal interest,” Bhivshet said.
The point of discussion was regarding the payment towards renewal of construction licence of Raj Housing Development Pvt Ltd.
After the engineering section made an estimate of Rs 96 lakh as fees for renewal of the construction licence, the project owner approached the Administrative Tribunal, which worked out the fees to just around Rs 7 lakh.
“Why was a wrong estimate given by the engineers? How can there be so much difference between the estimate prepared by the MMC’s technical section and the figure arrived at by the Tribunal? It clearly shows that there is something hanky panky going on in the technical section,” Bhivshet said.
Mapusa civic body Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvoikar said the MMC had first issued the construction licences at Rs 48 lakh but the owner went on renewing the licence at least six times.
“These engineers are enjoying at the cost of the councillors. They are only waiting to see what benefit they can get while issuing construction licences,” the councillor alleged.
