Team Herald
PANJIM: Financial implications on the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) of an additional Rs 46 lakh per annum due to a hike in fees for daily wage workers of solid waste management has forced the council to defer the decision till the next meeting.
Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) in a recent circular had said that municipalities can take a call on increasing the wages of daily wage workers involved in solid waste management up to a maximum of Rs 500 per day. However, looking at the financial implications, councillors said that it will be taken up in the next meeting.
“The proposal which we have come up with will increase the financial burden on the CCP by Rs 46 lakh per annum. There were queries raised by some of the councillors after which it was decided that the issue will be taken up in the next meeting. Also I will examine this issue,” CCP Commissioner Ajit Roy said.
He added, “Definitely if we increase it is good for the workers but there are financial implications, it should fit in our budget and due to this all councillors have decided to carry this forward to the next meeting.”
Ruling and opposition councillors raised the issue of extra financial burden on the corporation with the Mayor and Commissioner, demanding that data be produced before the council of the total number of employees in a bid to study and calculate the exact extra burden.
The council further deferred the decision to grant permission for road cutting as the councillors raised questions as to why the plans and maps of digging were not submitted along with the agenda.
The council approved that a fine of Rs 50,000 be imposed on organisers who run exhibitions in the city without approval of the corporation and in case of an extension without approval will attract double the penalty.
Similarly, a fee of Rs 5000 will be levied for obtaining a trade licence and also for erecting trade business boards for professionals including lawyers, doctors, CAs as it was seen that they were not paying.
CCP also passed the bye-law as modified by the Commissioner pertaining to recruitment rules and service conditions, CCP (Code of business), trade and occupation licensing, street vendors and solid waste management and handling.
“CCP has already drafted the bye-laws but we need an approval from the state government. So today all the councillors discussed these laws and since all the queries were answered it is believed that it has been passed. Once minutes of this meeting are approved, I will forward this draft to government for approval,” the Commissioner said.
