MARGAO
This question did the rounds in the corridors of the Margao Municipal Council on Wednesday with TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai setting a week's time-frame to appoint a full-time dedicated Chief Officer for the Margao civic body and the incumbent Chief Officer reportedly not keen in continuing to preside over the affairs of the A Class Municipal body.
At Wednesday's meeting, councillors sought to know from Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai whether Chief Officer Agnelo would be in the Council to implement the host of decisions and resolutions adopted at the meeting. While Babita told councillor Arthur D'Silva to direct the question to the Chief Officer for an answer, Agnelo remained mum, only indicating that he may not remain in charge of the civic body from next week.
On the other hand, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai was believed to be scouting for a Grade I officer to replace Agnelo Fernandes at the Margao civic body. After the Cabinet meeting, sources said, the TCP Minister is believed to have briefed Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on the need to appoint a dedicated Chief Officer at Margao. It is learnt that a couple of names of Grade I officers working in South Goa as well as in the North, were being considered by the government as Agnelo will in most probability continue as the Additional Collector, South Goa.
On Monday, the TCP Minister had promised to depute a dedicated Chief Officer to head the MMC, but had left the choice to the incumbent Chief Officer Agnelo whether to stay put in the civic body or hold full-time charge as South Goa Additional Collector.
Agnelo had taken over the reigns of MMC Administration around four months ago on July 14 last in addition to his duties as Additional Collector, South. However, the need for a dedicated Chief Officer was felt since Agnelo was preoccupied in the district Collectorate and was unavailable for the public on a daily basis.
