MARGAO, OCT 8
The United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) has asked the Margao Municipal Council to streamline the system for disposal of files and prevent bribery and corruption.
Party secretary General Anacleto Viegas has urged the Chief Officer to streamline the procedure for disposal of the files systematically and speedily, so that progress is attained and citizens are prevented from encouraging bribery and corruption.
“We have time and again orally informed the Chief Officer that the Engineering / Technical department needs to be shaken up to attend to the peoples requests for NOC’s and licences. The procedure followed in obtaining NOC’s and licences is time consuming, vexatious and immensely expensive”, Viegas said.
He pointed out that the citizens have to follow a procedure spanning 6-8 weeks for no fault of theirs inspite of the fact that the file has the approval of the SGPDA.
“It appears that the lengthy procedure is designed to obstruct progress rather than promote development and help citizens to abide by the law. The citizens are harassed by the Engineering department perhaps with intent to grease the palms of the Engineers who handle the files.”, he said.
Saying that the Municipal Administration has been burdened with 7 to 8 Engineers for work which can be done by only 2 – 3 Engineers, he said some of the Engineers are not interested in work as they are involved in construction activities carried out in the name of their family members. “A strict watch should be kept on the Engineers as some of them are lethargic, inefficient and careless about their work”, he added.
He regretted that engineers and other staff deal with precious construction files and other documents in a disorderly manner and with total disregard for up keep of the files.
