The e-trucks and the inauguration of the vehicles on Independence Day.
MARGAO
When the Margao Municipal Councilors meet on Monday for an ordinary meeting of the Council, they will be discussing about the purchase of two bio clean e-trucks to take up cleaning of the city pavements and footpaths.
While there is not issue over the purchase of the bio clean e-trucks, what has kicked up a row of sorts is that the two e-trucks have already been inaugurated and commissioned by the Civic body on Independence Day, throwing up questions whether the MMC intends to complete the purchase formalities when the vehicles are already on the job of cleaning the pavements.
Convenor of Shadow Council for Margao Savio Coutinho has on Sunday said the Margao Municipal Council is so deep into corruption that a new scam is detected every day.
“With the dust of the B-S4 engine trucks scam yet to settle, the Shadow Council for Margao raised yet another scandal in the purchase of 2 rickshaws supposedly purchased for cleaning works”, he said.
Ironically, he said while the Margao MLA Digamber Kamat launched this vehicle on August 15, on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day, the Council is scheduled to take a resolution on August 22 to purchase these vehicles. What is more surprising is that the Council is learnt to have already paid the agency over Rs 8 lakhs for the 2 vehicles.
"Is there any rule of law in Margao?", Coutinho questioned, adding “How can the Council so freely play with the public funds? , and how can the government simply turn deaf and dumb to such frauds?
While informing that an informal meeting was held in the chamber of the Chairperson some days back, and a note was signed by the Councillors present giving a go ahead for the release of the Rs 8 lakh payment; Coutinho stated there is no such provision to approve such purchases without following Codal formalities*.
He said SCM will definitely do its duty of filing a complaint demanding a vigilance inquiry into this matter, irrespective of whether the authorities are willing to act or not.
