the goan I network
MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council’s special meeting on Friday generated a lot of heat over the DMA’s proposal to develop clean street food hub opposite the KTC bus stand, with the City Fathers seeking clarity on the subject from Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai.
Many an eyebrow was raised by the City Fathers over the proposal moved by the Chairperson to hike the salary of the Swachh Bharat Mission coordinator to Rs 30,000 when the civic body in the notice asking applications from prospective candidates had promised to pay a salary of only Rs 15,000.
When the chairperson placed for discussion the DMA’s proposal to develop clean street food hub opposite the KTC bus stand, councillors demanded to know details of the proposal how the civic body and the DMA intends to go about with the project when the land was acquired for vehicular parking.
Babita, however, maintained that the DMA along with the FDA only intends to train the workers employed by the fast food kiosks, prompting the councillors to raise a host of questions including whether the training will be imparted for the employees of both legal and illegal kiosks and why not such a training session is not extended to the fast food kiosks located at the old bus stand.
After much discussions, the councillors said they have no objection if the DMA and the FDA intends to impart only training to the employees on hygiene, but made it clear that the civic body should discuss and deliberate in detail if the area is proposed to be converted into a street food hub.
The issue over the appointment of a SBM coordinator on contract basis also raised many an eyebrow when the chairperson proposed a hike in the monthly salary from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 to the lone applicant, who had responded to the recruitment. City Fathers called for the publication of fresh notice in the media inviting applications from prospective candidates for the post given that the civic body is now ready to pay Rs 30,000 as the monthly salary. They pointed out that instead of a lone candidate, many prospective candidates would have applied for the post if they were aware of the civic body’s plan to hike the salary to Rs 30,000.
The meeting was apparently convened by the chairperson to rush with certain proposals including the pre-monsoon desilting works in view of the election code expected to come into force any moment.
