PANJIM: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has sought permission from the Chief Electoral Office (CEO) to hold its ordinary council meeting, which had been earlier scheduled on February 21 and subsequently cancelled citing the election code of conduct that is in force.
In a letter to the CEO, Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado said that as per section 25 of the City of Panaji Corporation Act 2002, the corporation has to meet once every month or whenever the State government directs.
“Accordingly, a meeting was scheduled on February 21, the agenda for which includes confirmation of the minutes of last meeting and minor subjects,” he said adding that CCP Commissioner Deepak Desai objected to holding the meeting due to the election code of conduct.
Furtado said the meeting was an ordinary council meeting where no policy decisions would be taken. “Hence, we request for permission to call for a meeting during the code of conduct period,” he said.
The election code of conduct currently in force in the State will end only on March 15. Elections to 40 Assembly seats were held on February 4, and counting of votes will take place on March 11.
The last council meeting was held in December 2016 and saw a major storm after the ruling panel declined to grant approval to the Panjim Outline Development Plan (ODP) and for works under the AMRUT scheme for 2017-18.
Meanwhile, CCP in a communication to the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has asked the society to pay the solid waste management dues of Rs 22.63 lakh pending for 2015.
CCP handles the solid waste management during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), deploying several of its workers to collect and dispose the garbage generated during the ten-day event at all its venues.
CCP has claimed that ESG failed to make the payment of Rs 22.63 lakh for services during IFFI 2015.
