MARGAO
In what is seen as a clear signal to the administration that the elected Council will not take lapses lying down, an assertive Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar on Wednesday sent a note to the Chief Officer to initiate an inquiry into the delay by the administration in availing the water supply department’s One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme.
The Chairperson also impressed upon the Chief Officer to ensure that resolutions adopted at the Council meetings are implemented in both letter and spirit. The MMC Chairperson drew attention of the MMC Administrative head that an impression is gaining ground that resolutions, once adopted at the meetings, are confined to the record books for want of implementation by the administration.
The issue over the serious lapse by the MMC administration to avail the Water supply department’s OTS scheme had taken the centre stage at the Council meeting held last week wherein the City Fathers had taken strong exception to the attitude of certain officials in processing the file.
The City Fathers had pointed out the office ought to have grabbed the OTS scheme as it would have saved the MMC lakhs of rupees. They, however, lamented that failure to avail the OTS scheme would cause loss amounting to lakhs of rupees to the civic body.
The MMC Chairperson told The Goan that he has asked the Chief Officer to complete the inquiry within a week’s time and fix responsibility on the erring officials for the failure to avail the OTS scheme.
“This is a serious issue which will cause huge loss amounting to lakhs of rupees to the Civic body. It is in the fitness of things that the Chief Officer conduct a detailed inquiry into the lapses and initiate action”, Damu said.
He further informed that resolutions adopted at the Council meetings, more often than not, are implemented and taken to the logical conclusion.
“I have conveyed the sentiments of my colleague councilors to the Chief Officer to take cognizance of the fact that the resolutions adopted at the Council meetings are not implemented, but are confined to the record books. This should not happen’ Hence, I have told the CO to ensure that the Council resolutions are taken to the logical conclusion”, the Chairperson added.
The MMC Chairperson’s action has come two days after he promised to change his style of functioning after he decided to stay put on the civic chief seat after threatening to quit office during the weekend.
