Cash-strapped Margao civic body intensifies drive to recover dues

Team Herald

MARGAO: Taking serious note of the large sum of pending dues, amounting to almost Rs 37 crore, the Margao Municipality has warned their recovery staff of strict action if they are found negligent in their duties pertaining to the recovery drive that began on Monday.  

MMC Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar told Herald that the recovery section of their staff has been instructed to leave their cabins at sharp at 10.30 am every day, to collect the outstanding taxes and fees. “An order has been issued in this regard and it will be on rotation basis. Out of the three, one inspector will sit in the office to facilitate the public, while the other two will be tasked with the recovery of dues,” he said. 

The Chairman of the State Finance Commission Daulat Hawaldar had recently urged the Margao civic body to expedite the process of recovery. 

On the sidelines of an awareness drive on waste segregation initiated by the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) on Monday, he stressed that 

action will be initiated against those who are not working on a time-bound basis and with proper coordination between the different sections.  

“I have also discussed the issue with the Chief Officer and demanded a report on the staff that is not willing to do work or not following the instructions, and send it to the government for further action,” Shirodkar said.  

According to him, workers who are engaged in daily labour are not seen starting on time as compared to the earlier system, as an absence will be marked against those who do not report on time. 

“There is no proper coordination amongst the sections. The staff needs to work in tandem, like a well-oiled machine.  Many things have been brought back on track over the last few days,” he claimed.  

On Monday, a special awareness drive commenced across the jurisdiction of the civic body, pertaining to waste segregation.  

Chairperson Shirodkar flagged off the drive in the presence of Dipali Sawal, Vice-Chairperson, Pankaj Raikar, an official of GSUDA, and several other councillors. “This drive should help us get waste segregated into biodegradable or wet waste, and non-biodegradable and recyclable waste,” said Shirodkar.