VASCO
The recovery of arrears dominated the first meeting of Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) on Thursday, with Chairperson Deepak Naik informing the councillors that MMC's recovery section had been slow in recovering outstanding dues.
However, Naik's proposal to appoint a retired KTC employee as financial consultant to expedite the recovery was opposed by Councillor Pascoal D’Souza.
Speaking at the meeting, Naik highlighted the grim situation confronting the council.
“MMC's financial condition is very bad, as Rs 11 crore is outstanding and if this amount is not recovered, we will be unable to function and pay staff salaries,” said Naik.
“We have to recover the outstanding dues. We also have to pay pending bills to the electricity and PWD (water section), which runs into lakhs of rupees. If the recovery is done seriously, we will also be able to pay dues before the electricity department disconnects our power supply,” cautioned Naik.
He further suggested the need to appoint an experienced financial consultant/advisor to start recovering the outstanding on a war-footing and proposed the name of T K Pawse, a retired KTC employee, who had earlier worked as financial controller, for a monthly salary of Rs 25,000.
Councillor Krishna Salkar said the recovery team should be strengthened and should seriously recover dues from all defaulters, while Councillor Saifulha Khan said the council should first come up with an amicable solution with the lessees and settle the rent issue once and for all.
Councillor Pascoal D’Souza objected to the proposed appointment of Pawse and asked the chairperson if he did not have faith in the MMC recovery team.
“Why appoint Pawse when there are others available to discharge duty for a similar amount?” asked D'Souza.
Justifying his suggestion to appoint Pawse as consultant, Naik said Pawse was earlier appointed as financial advisor of the PDA, where he had successfully recovered the outstanding amount of the PDA.
“There is a need to take immediate action against the defaulters and we will start with renewal of licenses, signboard fees, house tax and change in trade licenses,” said Naik.
As far as rent issue is concerned, Naik said he will convene a special meeting to discuss and decide to recover rent from the municipal lessees.
Councillor Kritesh Gaonkar asked whether MMC was aware about municipal properties and its status.
Gaonkar brought to the notice of the council that there is council property at Adarshnagar and added that someone had constructed a road in the property.
He also brought to the notice of the council that someone was constructing a dwelling unit in the property and despite filing a complaint with the council, no action was taken. He urged the council to look into the matter.
.
.
Election for committees on Nov 20
THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO: Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Deepak Naik on Thursday stated that election to various committees in the MMC would take place on November 20.
In his opening remarks while chairing his first council meeting with the other 24 councillors, Naik reminded the councillors that voters from the port town had elected them with the hope that all councillors would work to develop their respective wards.
“Let us not waste our time in the council by pulling down other councillors, but instead, we should live up to the expectation of our voters and work united towards betterment of our wards and of the port town,” Naik appealed to the councillors.
The meeting was convened to discuss about the date for election of subject committees and appointment of standing committee.
Naik informed the councillors that as per the Act, one third of the council members should be appointed as members on the standing committee, which would comprise eight councillors.
The other committees will be elected will be for education, market and solid waste management committees, while the fourth committee is for sanitation, medical and public health.
After consulting the councillors, Naik decided to have elections to the four committees on November 20, with filing of nominations scheduled for November 19.
