Team Herald

CUNCOLIM: At the bi-monthly meeting of Cuncolim Municipal Council, the Chief Officer, CMC, Shankar Gaonkar, raised several eyebrows when he said that  since 2007, no audit of CMC was conducted.

Gaonkar said because of this, the Council was finding it difficult to secure Government schemes.

The Council officials were ignorant about the fact and it came to light when some government agency had asked the CMC to submit the audit report for the last three years to sanction a grant of Rs 44 lakh. 

He also informed that some time back, the council had appointed a retired government staffer to put the  accounts in order. The person had worked for 18 months and was paid Rs 5 lakh but he failed to deliver. The Council was left with no choice and started backlog auditing to get government grants. 

Various other issues were discussed in the Council meeting which was held on Friday and chaired by Chairperson Polita Carneiro.

It was decided to install an AC in the council hall at Cuncolim Market. It was also decided to have a Sulabh toilet at the Cuncolim parking lot. The CO also said the council has initiated the process to demolish a mobile tower installed at Sanvorcotto on the side of Road.

In a surprising decision, the council resolved to shift Cuncolim Sunday Market from the Market yard to the Council acquired open space at Kaita near KTC bus stand at site of NH17.

Councillor Mario Morais suggested to find out the possibility before shifting of the market. It was also revealed by CO Shankar Gaonkar that due to negligence of administrative office, the lease argument with shopkeepers lapsed two months back. In another decision, the Council adopted resolution to transfer the remaining development fund into the Employees' Salary Provision Fund. The Council also decided to purchase a car for the Chairperson with Rs 9 lakh from the Employees' Security Fund.

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