the goan I network
VASCO
The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) which has been struggling with finances, got a major boost after receiving salary and development grants from the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA).
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning after conducting a special council meeting to discuss various issues, MMC Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar said the MMC had earlier met Urban Development Minister Milind Naik and had also written to the DMA about the need of grants to pay salaries to the
MMC staff. “Our request was finally accepted and on Monday, we received Rs 50 lakh as salary grants and Rs 3.79 crore as development grants,” said Gaonkar.
“Issues related to garbage were discussed and standing committee and sub committees members were selected. The heads of various committees are Leo Rodrigues (market committee), Lavina D’Souza (Education committee), Pascoal D’Souza (Sanitary committee), Saifullah Khan (Development committee) and Sandesh Mesta (Garbage committee),” said Gaonkar.
“It was also decided to have nets fencing around MMC garden to prevent nuisance,” Gaonkar added.
Gaonkar said a decision was also taken to impose fines on illegal handcarts moving around the city and a resolution was taken on the amount of fine to be imposed on the illegal handcarts.
Gaonkar also said that it was decided to buy a porcelain and a forklift machine for the garbage treatment plant. “The council resolved to repair all dilapidated toilets in all wards. Toilets are of vital importance and we have requested councillors from all wards to give us a list of dilapidated toilets so that they can be repaired.”
Councillor Leo Rodrigues, head of the MMC market committee, said the council would have zero tolerance to
illegal handcarts and
encroachments.
“We have taken a resolution to impose heavy fines to deter such activities. The fine for the first violation will be Rs 2,000, second violation would be a fine of Rs 5,000 with a strict warming. For the third violation, we will dismantle handcarts and attach it along with the goods. We are strictly against any encroachment,” said Rodrigues.
