VASCO
Hitting out at his archrival, NCP State President Jose Philip D'Souza on Monday accused Vasco BJP MLA Carlos Almeida of having failed miserably to carry out development projects in Vasco for the last 8 years even though the projects had been approved and even allotted funds.
D’Souza was speaking to reporters during a news conference in the presence of NCP Minority Chairman Nazir Khan and other NCP members.
"It takes a lot of effort to get a project approved and get funds allotted but many projects approved and allotted with funds during my tenure are still pending. If the MLA is incapable, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) should have pressurised the MLA to get the projects cleared. Sadly, this has not happened because the MLA is incompetent," said D'souza.
"The approved administrative building project has not happened in the last eight years and the government offices, which would have been in one administrative building, are scattered all over causing inconvenience to people besides wasting government money on rent.”
“Even the chief officer’s bungalow signature project is gone for a toss, with prime property turning into a garbage dumping point and scrapyard. Work on road widening and market projects are also pending and this only shows the lack of interest of the Vasco MLA,” D’Souza added.
NCP Minority Chairman Nazir Khan said RTI information had revealed that till November, the MMC was yet to recover Rs 51.85 crore from rent alone and the major defaulters were State and central government organisations.
"A two-term BJP MLA and a BJP-led panel of MMC councillors could not recover Rs 51.85 crore rent from 179 tenants, of which one oil tanking company alone owes Rs 24 crore and the another oil tanking unit owes Rs 13 crore and these are central Government organizations,” said Khan.
“I wonder why this recovery has not happened, especially at a time when MMC workers have to struggle and strike for their salaries.”
“Several government offices based in MMC building, like the dy collector’s office, post office, BSNL and other offices have to pay rents in lakhs of rupees and these amounts have also not been recovered," said Khan.
