the goan I network
MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council has been caught in a fix as a local NGO, which was engaged by the civic body to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, has threatened to derail the stray dogs control activity undertaken by it in the city.
The city-based NGO has been awaiting payments for the last 11 months in lieu of the work rendered by the organization in tackling the stray dog menace. In fact, the civic body has not paid the NGO for its services since January till date, threatening the ABC programme in the commercial capital.
Sources said that Margao MLA Digambar Kamat is believed to have now intervened to resolve the crisis, even as Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai has set a deadline to the Chief Officer, Siddivinayak Naik, to clear the payments due to the NGO by this weekend.
The delay in clearing the payments has brought Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik and sanitary inspector Viraj Arabekar face to face over the question of certifying the bills submitted by the NGO pertaining to payment of eight months (January to August).
Sources in the know said the sanitary inspector has declined to certify the bills since he is now transferred to the Sonsodo waste treatment plant. Arabekar is believed to have taken the stand that since he is now in-charge of the Sonsodo waste treatment plant, he is not in a position to certify the bills.
Taking offence to the Arabekar’s explanation, the CO is believed to have issued a show cause notice to him, but the sanitary inspector is believed to have stuck to his stand.
What has made matters worse is the fact that sanitary inspector, Sanjay Sangelkar, also refused to certify the bills as he claimed that he has no idea of the work put in by the NGO in the ABC program.
With the controversy dragging on endlessly and the NGO being forced to arrange the huge funds for the ABC program through its own sources, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat is believed to have intervened in the matter on Tuesday to work out a solution.
When The Goan contacted the MMC Chairperson to shed light on the controversy, she said that she has directed the CO to immediately cap the row and work out an amicable solution. “What has happened does not augur well for the municipal administration. I have asked the CO to release the payments to the NGO by the end of this week. We cannot make the NGO starve for funds when they have submitted the bills of eight months from January to August,” Babita said.
Sources in the corridors of the Margao municipality said the Chairperson and the elected councillors have taken serious view of the confrontation between the CO and the sanitary inspector
A city father said that the controversy may have a bearing in other sections of the municipality if the row is not resolved at the earliest.
City fathers pointed out that the administration should resolve the differences within, more so when the city is plagued by the stray dog menace. There have been a number of dog bite cases in the city over the months.
