Team Herald
MARGAO: There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for the beleaguered Margao Municipal Council.
After the assurance to pay the Diwali bonus, Margao Municipal Council is in a confused state on how to work out the solution to pay the salary of 554 staff and other bills in the next few days of time, which is almost touching to Rs 2 crore. However, the Chief Officer on Friday urged the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to release the salary grant under the common cadre at the earliest.
The civic body will be left with mere Rs 5 lakh in the treasury after the payment of Diwali bonus of Rs 15-16 lakh. And hence, the civic body is finding itself in the no man’s land in order to arrange the required funds to pay the salary latest by December 7 for the month of November.
Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes is also planning to expedite the recovery drive from Monday. But at the moment the council has no clue how to go about it, as this shortage of funds will continue in the near future also.
Speaking to Herald, the Chief Officer informed that he has written a letter to DMA to an earlier release of salary grant for common cadre employees.
“I have high hopes that the DMA will release the salary grant at the earliest. It will surely lessen the burden of the salary,” he stated.
He further informed that the council receives more than Rs 1 crore under salary grant, but the administration of Margao Municipality is still in a confused state in order to arrange the remaining funds.
“We have to work out some solutions to this shortage of funds. However, the civic body has planned to expedite the recovery drive from Monday onwards,” said the CO.
It is pertinent to note that ‘A’ Grade Municipality of Margao is having 554 employees, out of which 304 permanent staff and the remaining 250 are working on a temporary basis.
Meanwhile, keeping in mind the above situation, the MMC is in the process of appointing a special recovery officer for the period of six months, as the DMA approved the proposal of the civic body after minor rectifications.
According to MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira the DMA has given the approval to initiate the further process of appointing the recovery officer.
It is pertinent to note that the civic body is yet to recover nearly Rs 20 to 22 crore from the defaulters.
“We had urged the DMA for approval to appoint a special recovery officer but it was held up due to some minor clarifications, now they have given green signal,” said the Chairperson.
He further informed that the council will appoint a recovery officer for the period of six months on a contract basis, and the officer will be a retired staff.
“The process will start very soon,” said the Chairperson.
