CANACONA
Having succeeded in collecting increased rent, the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) has bought a school bus for the Shri Mallikarjun Vidyalaya at Char Rasta at a cost of around Rs 20 lakh and is also in a position to pay its staff and workers without having to depend on the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA).
CMC Chairperson Ramakant Naik Gaonkar said previous CMC chairpersons had been reluctant to collect the increased rent, but he had managed to do so thereby generating higher revenues to the council.
“For the last 24 years, the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) has been sending letters to the municipal council asking to review the rentals on the operating leases. But, the chairpersons concerned feared the move would upset voters and the hike in rent was not implemented,” said Naik Gaonkar.
“But during my tenure, the revenue of the council has increased after we started the work to collect the increased rent. Following, this increase in revenue, the CMC bought a School Bus for the Shri Mallikarjun Vidyalaya in Char Rasta at a cost of around Rs 20 lakh. This is the first example in the State where a municipal council can also provide a bus to the school.”
“Now, the municipal council does not have to reach out to the DMA to seek funds to pay our staff and workers,” he added.
Commenting on works undertaken in his Chaudi Ward, Naik Gaonkar said the road to Mataji Mandir at Xeller has been asphalted with a hot mix at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, while construction of the gutter at Div Drops is underway at a cost of Rs 14 lakh.
“The beautification of the Municipal Garden at Chaudi has been entrusted to the forest department. I am now planning to beautify the parapet from Chaudi to St Thereza of Jesus Church, with pavers, steel railings, etc. and to renovate the old fish market corridor,” he said.
