MARGAO
In a resolution that may revive the bitter row over powers of an elected civic body and government-appointed Chief Officer and bring the municipal chairperson and the chief officer face to face, the Margao Municipal Council on Monday adopted a resolution to direct the administration to route all the files, including construction, house tax, trade license and transfers to the chairperson.
That’s not all. The council at its meeting held on Monday further resolved that ward councillors should accompany inspections conducted by the officials in their respective wards.
While Chairperson Lyndon has justified the decision of the councillors, Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes has said he would seek the opinion of the Director of Municipal Administration on the matter.
The Chief Officer said he would not forward any files, be it construction or other administrative matters to the Chairperson, until and unless his office is in receipt of the legal opinion from the DMA.
“Let the council forward me the resolution adopted at today’s meeting. I will forward the same to the DMA for an opinion. Till such time, status quo will be maintained,” Agnelo said.
Chairperson Lyndon, on the other hand, maintained that the council has adopted the resolution unanimously on the plea that they are unware of what goes on in their wards though they are the representatives. “The councillors complained that files are passed and inspections held by keeping them in the dark. More often than not, the elected representatives face the brunt of the ward people on matters that have been approved by the administration without their knowledge”, he said.
Incidentally, the Chairperson had been of the strong opinion from day one that the files should be forwarded to the office of the Chairperson to keep a track of the developments taking place in the wards.
The MMC’s resolution has brought back the bitter row in the past when the councillors and the chief officer had come face to face over files not being routed to the Chairperson. The bitter row in the 90s, sources said, had prompted the then government to issue a circular saying the Chief Officer is not mandated to send all the administration files to the Chairperson unless specifically called by the elected civic head.
