the goan I network
VASCO
Though there have been tall claims made by previous Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) chairpersons that the Council had a very strong financial position and that it was already having enough money for staff salaries and projects, the newly elected Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar begs to differ saying there’s no money even to pay the staff salary in the coming months.
Gaonkar has now begun a massive drive for recovery of outstanding dues and has also approached Urban Development Minister Milind Naik seeking grants for issuing salary to the staff.
Gaonkar also said that there were lot of pending dues and a large number of outstanding amount of around Rs 12 crore that was yet to be recovered. Gaonkar also caught hold of a file where in MPT is liable to be paying MMC Rs 45,000 a month for garbage collection and the amount had not been claimed for the last ten months. Gaonkar has now instructed accounts department to raise the bill to MPT immediately so that the outstanding of Rs 4.5 lakh could be recovered.
“The financial position of MMC is extremely bad and we don’t have money to pay salaries of staff and I have begun a drive for recovery. We are starting a full swing recovery drive and I have met the Chief​ officer and also instructed staff that there should be no interference of any staff, officer or Councillors during the recovery drive. I appeal to the people to cooperate with us in this drive as MMC belongs to all of us. I have also instructed to take up the assessment of houses and this will also fetch us a lot of funds. If everyone cooperates then MMC will also be strong enough to
take up a lot of work,” said Gaonkar.
“Today is my third day in office and I have already seen some bills which are yet to be put up. Today itself I have almost taken up recovery of RS 5 lakhs and I have instructed the staff not to keep files for payments pending and begin the recovery process. I cannot comment if the previous Chairperson has lied and said that the MMC is a cash rich council but the reality is different. The moment I took over, I checked for financial position as we have the Diwali next month and salaries have to be paid. I have Even had a meeting with Urban Development Minister along with DMA officials in Panaji requesting them to give us grant for paying salaries,” said Gaonkar.
