MARGAO
Smiles lit the faces of Margao Municipal Council employees and workers after they were paid their November salary on Monday.The MMC, however, has an uphill task to arrange funds to the tune of Rs 2 crore in the next 14-16 days to pay the December salary before Christmas. If officials are to be believed, the municipality used to credit the December salary either on December 20 or 22 in view of Christmas festivities.
But with its coffers not flush with funds for several reasons, the administration is having a tough task to mop up enough revenue within the next fortnight to ensure salaries are paid ahead of Christmas.
MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes informed that he and his staff are trying their best to arrange funds for paying the salary.
The November salary of the employees was credited on Monday. The MMC could clear the salaries after it received a salary and DA grant amounting to Rs 1.70 crore from the government last week. “There was a delay of six days after the MMC had paid the Diwali bonus amounting to Rs 15 lakh to the employees last month. At the time of striking work, the employees had insisted on the payment of bonus first and were ready for delayed payment of salaries of the November month”, informed an MMC official.
The Chief officer added: “We have decided to go for revenue recovery in the next few days. I am confident that municipal employees and workers will get their December salary ahead of Christmas.”
