MAPUSA: This may sound strange but the ground reality is several works in the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) have come to a grinding halt as for months the civic body has been functioning without a full-time chief officer.
MMC is facing trouble to hold important meetings to take crucial decisions with the PWD official Chandrakant Shetkar holding additional charge as the civic body’s Chief Officer.
Initially MMC’s full-time Chief Officer Amitesh Shirvaikar had taken 15-day paternity leave but since June 1, he has gone on leave for an uncertain period.
It is pertinent to note that Shirvaikar had extended his leave period after every eight to 15 days and on account of this, the authorities then appointed Shetkar as the CO.
Shetkar is available in the MMC office only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; MMC’s functioning has been restricted as the councillors cannot convene special meetings. Most time is also consumed in deciding the minutes of the meetings and on surveys. After four months, Shirvaikar finally resumed duties on September 22. However, a notice was issued on September 25 which stated that Shirvaikar has been transferred to the Recruitment Commission. Hence, Shetkar was once again given the additional charge as chief officer.
Shetkar, who is an officer of PWD’s Survey Division, also holds additional charge as Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO) of National Highways Authority of India.