the goan I network
MARGAO
Three months after the Margao Municipal Council inked an agreement with the sopo contractor, the Council on Friday resolved to terminate the sopo contract and set in motion the process to float a fresh tender after the contractor defaulted in the payment of sopo installments for the last two months.
The Council also resolved to constitute the Vishakha committee on sexual harassment of women by roping in two councillors, Doris Texeira and Pooja Naik, Dr Sushila Mendes and a woman staffer of the civic body.
At the Council meeting chaired by MMC Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai, the meeting further resolved to initiate legal proceedings against the contractor as his cheque pertaining to the security deposit has bounced. The meeting resolved to forfeit the contractor’s bank guarantee in lieu of the payment of the monthly installment of Rs 5.5 lakh.
Pending the appointment of a new sopo contractor, the Council has resolved to collect the sopo departmentally.
When councillor Doris Texeira sought to point out that the contractor must have encountered difficulties as the traders have refused to pay the new notified sopo rates, the Council was of the opinion that that cannot be the ground for the contractor to stop payment of the monthly installments.
The issue over the requirement of obtaining signature of the MLAs on the forms for regularisation of illegal houses also dominated the meeting. The three BJP-backed councillors, Rupesh Mahatme, Ketan Kurtarkar and Jaffar were on their feet to demand immediate withdrawal of the requirement of the MLA’s signature. “Why should the common man go to the MLA for the signature for regularisation of houses when it is a purely administrative matter,” Rupesh questioned. He further demanded to know how the form has surfaced after incumbent Chief Officer Siddivinayak Naik assumed office when the form issued earlier had no such condition. After much discussion, the Council resolved to do away with the requirement of the MLA’s signature.
Given that the termination of the contractor with Bapu Environmental Ltd will come into force only in mid-September, the Council has resolved to engage the services of the firm till September-end in view of the ensuing Ganesh festival.
Agitated City Fathers questioned the rule wherein the Council is mandated to deduct the Provident Fund of employees of contractors, who execute projects worth Rs 50,000 and above, saying that it is impractical to obtain PF details of contractors executing minor works.
The Council has also resolved to name the road leading to Sunaina hotel after former MMC chairperson late Monica Dias.
The Council also resolved to empanel legal advisor, who will make himself available in the civic body to give instance legal opinions required by the Municipality. This follows instructions issued by TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai during his visit to the civic body.
Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai told the chief officer to direct the concerned sections to rid the Municipal garden of the scrap saying the scrap material has made the garden an eyesore.
