MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council on Friday resolved to ink a MoU with a NGO to tackle the stray cattle menace in the commercial capital, but had to face a barrage of questions over the Council’s failure to sign a similar agreement to handle the stray dog population.
The Council also gave a nod to give one-month extension for the two agencies engaged in the door-to-door collection of waste, but not before coming under the scanner of former Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar for extending the contracts on more than three occasions.
At the Council meeting chaired by Chairperson Damu Shirodkar, the Council resolved to enter into an agreement with a NGO to lift the stray cattle and house them at the Sanquelim farm. Chairperson Damu and Chief Officer Manuel Barretto contended that the civic body will not bear any financial liability, adding that the NGO will carry out the job free of cost.
Former Chairperson Lyndon Pereira, however, questioned the MMC chairperson over the delay in roping in a NGO to handle the stray dog menace in the city. He pointed out that the MoU with a NGO had expired two years ago, adding that this has only delayed in clearing the bills of the NGO.
A visibly agitated Chairperson, however, reminded the former Chairperson that the pending bills pertain to the period when the latter was occupying the Chairperson’s post, adding that he would ensure that the Council moves in the direction of roping in a contactor to handle the Animal Birth Control programme.
On the one-month extension sought for the two door-to-door waste collection agencies, the chairperson pointed out that the extension is required to complete the process of issuing work order to the agencies within the next 15 days. “The extension given to the two agencies expires on January 31. Unless, the Council gives another extension to the agencies, they will stop the work of collecting garbage door-to-door,” he said, while reminding that the garbage collection is an essential service.
Former Chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar, however, sought to know from the chairperson the reasons for giving more than three extensions to the two agencies till date.
