Team Herald
MARGAO: A heated argument between the councillors was witnessed at the special meeting called by Margao Municipal Council to discuss the issue pertaining to auctioning of two shops in the Gandhi Market on Thursday.
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At the meeting 14 councillors voted in favour of the decision of the civic body with regard to auctioning of the two shops, despite a rival group of councillors demanding to re-auction the same, and asking for vigilance inquiry. One of the councillors even alleged that there is no government approval taken before the start of the process as per the Goa Municipal Act.
Margao council will be the first municipality in Goa, where a peon, who is a contract labour, was asked to write the minutes of the meeting as claimed by the Chairperson Lyndon Pereira. Chairperson and Agnelo Fernandes, Chief Officer was taken to task over the issue of writing down the minutes.
At the initial stages of the meeting Councillor Sadanand Naik charged the Chief Officer for not following the proper procedure and renting out the shops for a very less rate, despite knowing that the civic body is struggling to generate the revenue and demanded auctioning again and vigilance inquiry in the matter.
Chief Officer clarified that all the legal procedure has been duly followed, and the rate of rent has been fixed as per the legal advice and rates approved by the Engineer of Public Works Department.
Chairperson said that everything has been done as per the guidelines and legal advice, and hence the councillors should ask clarification from the engineers of the PWD pertaining to fixing the rate, if any.
Councillor Camilo Barretto alleged involvement of the few councillors in the matter of auctioning the shops. War of words reached to an extent of attempting to attack physically. Later, speaking to media persons, the Chairperson said that the majority of the councillors voted in favour of the already taken decision pertaining to functioning of the two shops.
