In the last 10 years of the Margao Municipal Council administration, the office of the Chief Officer has seen over 16 different officials. Compared to other Municipal Councils of Goa, the frequency of transfers of Chief Officers from Margao is alarmingly high. Acting against the local political will has a very big impact on the officers of MMC. Even an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer has been shunted away from Margao due to political pressure. Action against any illegalities in the MMC jurisdiction results in transfers of officers. These frequent transfers of the Executive Authority has hampered and worsened the development of the town. The town has now begun to ask a question as to how long these unwarranted transfers of officers will continue.
The sparks flying from the Margao and Fatorda political waves have become a routine affair for Madgaonkaars. The MMC Chief Officers are transferred at a rate at which no other department experiences. A transfer happens every time there is a controversy in Margao. The Government has even tried putting an IAS officer to straighten up things in the MMC administration. Sadly, the situation in the administration did not change, but the Chief Officer did. Political interference in every affair of the MMC has resulted in 16 Chief Officers in just two political terms of 10 years causing a total paralysis of development and administration of MMC.
Every Chief Officer transfer has been backed up by some political controversy in Margao. For the last 24 months, the Chief Officers who have opposed encroachments, took action against agitators and took resolutions in Municipal meets in correct sync of acts have not remained over 6 months in service in the MMC.
Yashwant Tawde took charge on 23rd of August 2006 and was in service for 10 months till 02nd of May 2007. Narayan Sawant took charge as the 23rd chief officer and served from 03rd May 2007 to 10thAugust 2007 which is hardly 2 months of service. Before this Yashwant Tawde, N.D Agarwal, Yashwant Tawde again, Prasanna Acharya, Yashwant Tawde, Prasanna Acharya, J.B. Bhingui, Shrinet Kothwale, Sandhya Kamat, Deepali Naik, Yashwant Tawde, Narayan Sawant, IAS Officer Navin Laxman, Yashwant Tawde, Siddhivinayak Naik and now Deepali Naik again have been in charge.
While Vijai Sardesai has claimed that the transfer has been done on the backdrop of Shigmo Politics, Damu Naik says that it was his arrogance and ego which has caused his transfer. “There is no reason to attach Shigmo Politics to the transfer of Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik as none of the Shigmo organisers tried to change the Chief Officer. However, his arrogant and ruthless behaviour had attracted several complaints of the people and that is the reason he may have been transferred,” Damu Naik said.
Yashwant Tawde who has been Chief Officer of Margao Municipal Council for over 6 times in these passing years was removed as Chief Officer in 2007 due to the agitation of the Ravanfond farmers for acquisition of their land. He was transferred as the administrator of Sanjivani Sugar Factory.
Sources from the MMC have now informed that the tenders for the Sopo Collection which were supposed to be advertised are now set to be delayed due to irregular Chief Officers.
Meanwhile, Shriram Raiturkar has claimed that the officers who are not acting as per the wishes of the politicians are being transferred. “The transferred Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik has to be placed in a position where he mustn’t have to face many people and he has to learn how to behave with the people” he said.
