MARGAO
In a development that has raised many an eyebrow, Margao Municipal Chief Officer Manuel Barretto has proceeded on long leave from Tuesday.
The government has instructed South Goa Additional Collector Srinet Kotwale to hold additional charge of Margao Municipal Chief Officer till further orders. Kotwale, on Tuesday made his presence felt at the Margao Municipal Council and has cleared the pending administrative files.
Kotwale is no stranger to the Margao Municipal Council having enjoyed a stint as Chief Officer of the civic body in the recent past.
What, however, has raised eyebrows was the decision of incumbent Chief Officer Barretto to proceed on 45 days leave. While Barretto is believed to have proceeded on leave on personal grounds, sources said that he has been knocking the doors of the government to transfer him out of the civic body for some time now.
Having taken over the reigns of office as MMC Chief officer in October last year, Barretto was unhappy with the state of affairs in the civic body and was looking for his transfer from the civic body.
While sources in the government conceded that the Chief Officer wanted a transfer from the Margao civic body, the government, however, could not find a replacement, as a result of which Barretto had been left with no option than to stay put in the MMC.
