the goan I network
MARGAO
Will the Margao Municipal Council go for extension of the existing sopo contract for a month or two or will the Council give the go ahead signal to Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes to collect the sopo departmentally?
This question has come to the fore as the sopo contract expires on March 31 and the Margao Municipal Council has called for a meeting on March 28 to deliberate on how to go about the sopo issue. While the Council may give a short extension of the sopo contract till such time the Municipality floats a new tender and sign an agreement with a new contractor, the Margao Municipal administration appears all geared up to collect the sopo departmentally with a huge army of workers.
In fact, MMC officials have told Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes that the municipal administration has all the wherewithal to collect the sopo departmentally with its elaborate manpower logistics.
When this question was posed to the Chief Officer whether his municipal administration has the capability to collect the sopo department from April 1 till the time the Council signs an agreement with a new contractor, Johnson replied in the positive. He, however, hastened to add that it is purely for the Council to take a call on the sopo issue, adding that the MMC meeting on March 28 will set the ball rolling on the sopo issue.
To a query, the Chief Officer pointed out that Clause 17 of the agreement with the sopo contractor has a provision that the Municipality can extend the sopo contract with the existing contractor by charging 25 per cent extra. Sources, however, said that nothing stops the Municipality from collecting the sopo departmentally from the new financial year.
To another query, the Chief Officer said the Municipality has received the legal opinion submitted by the Municipal lawyer, Adv Cleofato Coutinho, adding that the opinion will be placed before the Council meeting on March 28 for appropriate decision.
