VASCO
Amid noisy discussions at the Mormugao Municipal Council meeting, councillors sparred over works being taken in different wards by councillors not elected in the ward.
Councillor Reema Sonurlekar accused councillor Krishna Salkar, who had contested assembly elections, of taking up works like providing labourers and carrying out fogging in her ward, with an objective to prove her ineffective and inefficient.
Sonurlekar claimed that MMC was struggling with labour issues and despite several requests, labourers were not being allocated to the works in her ward.
“It was Moharram and my ward has a Fakir Galli, where this event is held on a grand scale. Despite my requests, no labourers were provided and to my surprise I saw Salkar taking up works in my ward and I also saw him arrive with fogging machines.” “My voters began questioning me and I will not tolerate this. I should not be held responsible tomorrow if the fogging machines are broken or if private labourers get trashed by the people,” warned Sonurlekar.
Councillor Krishna Daji Salkar, however, hit back saying he would go to any extent to ensure none of his voters were facing difficulties, adding that he was using fogging machines which belonged to him and not MMC.
“I am using my own fogging machines and many of my voters call me. I am ready to go anywhere when someone needs me. The ward and the citizens are not bound by their councillors and people deserve facilities. If MMC cannot provide the facilities, it’s not my fault and I am not scared of any threats.”
“When I was in the opposition, I was targeted and hence, I had got fogging machines at my own cost. Anyone is free to work in my ward as well.”
