TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: IAS Naveen Laxman was relieved from his duties as Margao Municipal Council (MMC) chief officer (CO) and made full-time deputy collector (revenue) for south Goa. Yashwant Tawde was made the MMC’s new chief officer.
Naveen is best known for issuing demolition orders to the then Chairperson Gonzaco Rebello’s illegal restaurant. He will also be remembered for the scuffle with the new Chairperson Arthur D’Silva, which earned him applause and criticism.
The outgoing CO has termed his initiatives of single window system and file management system as game changers for the MMC.
“If I only had more time, and not for the constant confrontation, I would have brought great changes in the MMC. I successfully recovered three crore rupees of MMC revenue out of the seven crores pending. I had many ideas for the MMC, but the demolition and the row after that hasn’t allowed me to do much,” said Naveen.
He added, “This being my first posting after IAS training, it has helped me be more mature. By experience, I won’t term all MMC councillors bad. There are some who have very good ideas for governance.”
On March 23, the Directorate of Municipal Administration ordered and directed the chief officer to take action against Gonzaco’s restaurant. When the order reached the office, Naveen ordered demolition of the structure, which was immediately struck down by the urban development minister.
Immediately after being elected the MMC Chairperson, Arthur had a heated argument with Naveen. Both of them and the MMC ended up on the headlines of newspapers and news channels.
