MARGAO
Newly-appointed Margao Municipal Chief Officer Manuel Barreto on Tuesday promised to accord topmost priority to the burning issue of Sonsodo and scientific disposal of daily waste generated in the commercial capital.
Born and brought up in the Malbhat area, Barreto is no stranger to the issues plaguing the Margao. And, he must be equally aware of the fact that he will have to tread a cautious path as he goes about presiding over the Municipal Administration, with as many as three MLAs part of the Margao Municipal Council, a former deputy chief minister and not to mention the 25-City Fathers representing the city.
Assuming office on Tuesday after being welcomed into the civic body with a bouquet by MMC acting Chairperson Deepali Sawal and outgoing Chief Officer Rohit Kadam, Barreto said garbage, parking, and administration will be accorded priority by him in the scheme of things.
Soon after assuming office, the Chief Officer was huddled with senior MMC administration officials, including Municipal Engineer Manoj Arsekar, Assistant Engineer Vishant Naik and others.
“We need to have a two-pronged strategy as far as Sonsodo is concerned. One is to address the legacy dump and to find a way for the scientific disposal of the daily waste transported to Sosnodo. This is a challenge we will have to take up on priority,” he told The Goan.
Barreto further said the issue of parking needs to be addressed head-on. Pointing out that the Margao Municipality had asked the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) to take up the multi-level parking, the Chief Officer said the civic body would follow up on priority.
He further said that the Margao should be brought under the Closed Circuit TV surveillance cameras. “We will discuss this issue with the council so that the CCTV cameras are revived once again,” he said.
As far as the administration is concerned, Barreto said the administration will be toned up to provide a transparent and people-friendly administration to the citizens.
Closely associated with the grass-root panchayats during his career, with his last posting as the Chief Executive Officer of South Goa Zilla Panchayat, this is perhaps the first time that Barreto is presiding over the affairs of a Municipality.
Manuel succeeds Rohit Kadam, who was transferred and posted as CEO of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat. However, in a corrigendum issued by the government, Rohit is now posted as the CEO of North Goa Zilla Panchayat. Florina Colaco is the new CEO of South Goa Zilla panchayat.
