Tuesday saw Margao Municipality functioning without any senior officer, with the newly-posted Chief Officer, Deepali Naik and the accounts-cum-administrative officer, Elekar pre-occupied with the Mormugao Municipal Council.
By evening, even the acting chairperson Doris Texeira, who is holding charge for chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai, was conspicuous by her absence in the civic body as she had headed to the Governor’s residence for a Swacch Bharat programme.
When The Goan called up newly-posted part-time Chief Officer Deepali Naik to comment on the absence of senior officers at the Margao civic body on Tuesday, leaving many a citizen in the lurch, she expressed her helplessness as she is holding charge of both Mormugao and Margao Municipal Councils.
“As I have already stated, I can devote only two days at the Margao civic body and attend to the Mormugao civic body for the remaining three days of the week. I am aware that the accounts-cum-administrative officer was also absent in Margao since his presence was required in Mormugao because of the budget,” Deepali told The Goan.
The Goan has found out that the accounts-cum-administrative has been holding additional charge of Margao Municipal Council for the last many months, affecting the administration at both the civic bodies.
When The Goan called up the Director of Municipal Administration Elvis Gomes to comment on the administrative paralysis in the Margao Municipal Council for want of senior officials, he said the MMC will get some relief as the accounts-cum-administrative officer, Elekar will be relieved and posted full-time at the Margao civic body.
“We have already decided to relieve Elekar from Mormugao civic body and post him full-time to the Margao Municipal Council. This order will come in a day or two,” Gomes said.
Acting MMC chairperson Doris Texeira, who was holed up at the Governor’s functioning on Tuesday evening, said the posting of part-time Chief Officer Deepali Naik and the fact that the AAO Elekar is holding additional charge of Mormugao Council has come to affect the Margao Municipal administration.
“We only hope that the government post a full-time Chief Officer at Margao to ensure that citizens are attended promptly by the administrative officers,” she added.
