VASCO
The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has been struggling for funds and has even sought salary grants from the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to pay workers and staff.
Given MMC’s challenging financial situation, the council’s decision to waive off about Rs 16 lakhs as construction licence fees from an educational institution in the port town has evoked sharp criticism various corners in the port town.
Criticising the MMC, some activists have claimed that while all schools have been forced to pay necessary dues, one particular educational institution was favoured by the MMC.
They also sought to know the reason why the educational institution was not asked to pay the construction licence fees when the council has been carrying out various recovery drives to improve its financial position.
“The educational institution had begun operating way before it was granted official occupancy certificate by MMC. The council had resolved to waive off construction licence fees of the school way back in 2015,” claimed a source.
Chandrashekar Vasta, spokesperson of Niz Goenkar Revolutionary Front (NGRF) said if the MMC could waive off charges on its own, then it must also waive off fees of various other schools in the municipality.
“The MMC is struggling to pay workers and on the other hand, they have forgone a huge amount of Rs 16 lakh of a school. They must explain on what basis the school has been favoured.”
“If the MMC can resolve to waive off charges for a particular school, then the MMC must resolve to exempt all schools and also exempt house taxes of all the poor people.”
“It is not a small amount that had been let go and no one can waive it as the money belongs to the people and not the chief officer. The school had even begun operations without occupancy,” said Vasta.
Convenor of NGO Goa First Parshuram Sonurlekar said the MMC should have taken the money and utilised it for the betterment of other schools, especially the municipal school which was in sad state of affairs. “The MMC is harassing small traders by levying fines and are letting the big fish go. Many schools need school benches, CCTV cameras and other utilities, but they don’t have funds.”
“This amount of Rs 16 lakh could have been used for such schools if the MMC did not want to take the money. The municipal school in the MMC building is crying for attention and these funds could have been used there. How can chief officer waive off such a huge amount? The MMC must explain this action,” said Sonurlekar.
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MMC resolved to waive off construction fees in 2015: Chief Officer
VASCO: Admitting that the MMC had waived off construction licence fees of one school, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes on Friday morning said the construction licence was granted in 2015 and MMC had resolved to waive off the construction charges.
“The council had resolved to waive off charges and matter was referred to the DMA, but DMA referred back saying it was the prerogative of MMC to decide on the matter and take a decision. Accordingly, it was granted in 2015,” said Fernandes.
“Now, they have come for occupancy and again, it was referred to the council and it has been decided to waive off the occupancy charges as well,” he added.
Asked to justify the waiver of the fees to one school, Fernandes replied: “The religious body managing the school had gifted prime land to the MMC to develop the Vaddem lake.”
“They gifted us a big land to for the Vaddem lake beautification and they had not charged anything but donated it to MMC. Hence, it was decided to reciprocate by waiving off fees from the school.” “The Vaddem lake land belongs to the religious body, but it has been handed over to MMC who are developing the Vaddem lake,” added Fernandes.
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Councils cannot waive off fees from schools, asked DMA for report on MMC waiver issue: Urban development minister
VASCO: Stating that municipal councils could never waive off fees from schools, Urban Development Minister Milind Naik on Friday said he had directed the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) to probe into the Mormugao Municipal Council’s (MMC) decision to waive off construction licence fees from a school in the port town.
Naik was speaking to reporters along side a function to launch the works of sewerage connections in Headland Sada, amid a public uproar over MMC’s decision to waive off around Rs 16 lakh as construction licence fees from a school.
“People want to know why other schools were not offered a similar waiver by the MMC. Since the question has arisen, I want to clarify that there is nothing like offering such waivers and the MMC cannot exempt any school.”
“As far as I know, they cannot offer a waiver to anyone and I am not sure how and why the MMC had offered a waiver. I was also enquiring about the waiver offered till the news broke out and I have immediately directed the DMA to conduct a detailed study on the incident and to submit a report to me.”
“This matter has now gone to the DMA and they will report to me. Then, we will decide what next is to be done. As of now, I think that the waiver cannot be granted,” the minister said.
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Milind: 95% of my constituency has sewage
connections
VASCO
Urban Development Minister Milind Naik on Friday said 95% of Mormugao constituency had sewage connections, adding that work on those sewage lines, which were undertaken
in few places due to some reasons, were now being taken up.
Urban Development Minister said, “We are now taking sewage connections to almost every house. We have identified all places yet to be linked to sewage connections. There are places where chambers is above and houses are below and we have done reverse pumping of sewage to cater to such houses.”
“Swachh Bharat is of utmost importance and I want to ensure that entire Mormugao taluka gets sewage connections,” added Urban Development Minister.
