TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Decreasing revenue and an economic slowdown have prompted the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) to adopt a host of austerity measures to reduce unnecessary expenditure.
According to information, PMC was forced to adopt austerity measures due to various reasons, including a decline in revenue.
Every four months, PMC receives Octroi from the State government, which annually amounts to about Rs 1 crore. However this time, PMC feels that there will be a delay due to economic slowdown.
PMC’s revenue has also dropped following a decline in construction activities and as a result, no new occupancy or construction licenses have been issued.
PMC has taken up the Ponda market, where the annual electricity consumption bill is about Rs 36 lakh and another bill of Rs 15 lakh on water usage in the market. “We have already replaced the ordinary bulbs with CFL which are efficient and low on electricity consumption. We are also working to streamline water usage in the market area,” informed PMC Chairperson Dr Radhika Nayak.
Further, PMC has decided to keep a check on vehicle usage and fuel consumption and initiated process to recover taxes which are in lakhs. “The recovery team is already on the job and we are thinking of revising rents. We will also keep a check on vehicle usage and a proper check on amount of fuel used and timely maintenance will definitely benefit in the long run,” she said.
PMC has also taken measures to streamline its workforce. “PMC Chief Officer Johnson Fernandes recently convened a meeting with all the staff, as there were reports of delay in works. Instructions have been issued to the staff for timely completion of the work and unnecessary delays will not be tolerated,” informed Dr Nayak.
“Each department head will submit weekly report to the chief officer. I feel delay in work was basically because there was no control or proper supervision over PMC staff,” she added.
Every four months, Ponda Municipal Council receives Octroi from the State government, which annually amounts to about Rs one crore. However this time, PMC feels that there will be a delay in this amount coming in due to the economic slowdown, and so the need for austerity measures was felt.
