This is the biggest agenda of the new council, and it was heard that there will be heated discussions over several issues.
The issue of the Reliance ground-based masts (GBM) had started a spat between the former and present MLAs of Fatorda. The agenda point, which states, “To consider the application of Reliance Jio for NOC for setting up of GBMs”, has surprised many as the towers have already been installed across Margao and Fatorda. The GBMs had come in news for their allegedly haphazard installation in municipal and road-widening areas.
The MMC will also resolve to change the route of the carnival parade from the existing venue to the road from Colva circle to Ravindra Bhavan circle.
Two more important resolutions that are expected to be taken are: to asses all houses/structures in the municipal area that have not yet been assessed and to collect house tax from them. This assessment gains importance after the MMC failed to start door-to-door garbage collection due to lack of data regarding the houses. The assessment is also set to boost the MMC’s economic position in the form of recovery of taxes.
The increase in the charges for issuing birth and death certificates from Rs 15 to Rs 50 and correction of birth certificates from Rs 50 to Rs 100 is also on the anvil for the meeting.
A proposal to keep the inward desk of the MMC open on Saturday and Sunday for the benefit of the people has also been included in the agenda.
The MMC will also resolve to request the Directorate of Municipal Administration to release funds to purchase equipment, mostly for garbage collection. The equipment to be purchased includes seven compactors, two tipper trucks, four rickshaws, a back hoe wheel-loader and a water tanker.
It may be recalled that the MMC has been asking the DMC for funds to buy machinery for years, to no avail. “There are five to six major issues that need to be discussed at length, and the Chair needs to give enough time for discussions,” said Councillor Rupesh Mahatme.
Former Fatorda MLA Damu Naik, who has been criticising the MMC over the GBMs, has said that the illegality in the installation of towers has been exposed. He added, “The resolution for licence means that the MMC for the last 10 months has lost revenue worth crores. There should be an inquiry into the matter.”
