Team Herald
PANJIM: Noting that the civic body is losing out revenue from some of its valuable assets, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) on Monday, resolved to undertake a survey of the municipal properties within its jurisdiction. The corporation has decided to call for a special meeting to decide on its properties, which have been misused.
The ordinary meeting of the CCP council held on Monday also resolved to recover payment along with penalty, from the off shore casinos towards the LED hoardings put up by them.
Pointing to the report of Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Councilor Rupesh Halankar brought to the notice of the council that there are a total of 100 municipal quarters, located at St Inez, Mala, Camrabhat, Bhatlem, out of which, nearly 74 quarters are illegally occupied by private players, without any payment to the corporation.
He said that only 22 quarters are actually occupied by the municipal staffers. Halankar also said that several municipal staffers, post retirement, rather than surrendering the quarters, have leased it out to others, and are taking rent, with no payment to CCP.
“CCP is losing out huge revenue. CAG has pulled us up in its report. The Corporation had in fact undertaken assessment of municipal properties in 2013 but no further decision was taken on those properties,” he said.
The mayor Uday Madkaikar then assured to call for a special meeting to discuss and decide on the municipal properties and how to generate revenue from it.
“But before that, let us undertake a detailed drive and identify the properties, which belong to the municipality. Let us find out who has occupied it legally and illegally. Once we have the data with us, we will be in position to discuss in depth on the subject during the special meeting,” he said.
During the meeting, the council came across the fact that despite notices having being issued to the off shore casinos, they have failed to make any payment towards the LED hoardings.
Councilor Rahul Lotlikar demanded that CCP takes some immediate steps to recover the dues, which are almost Rs 20 lakhs.
Commissioner Shashank Tripathi assured that the recovery will be done at the earliest by imposing penalty towards delay in payment.
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‘Junior engineers to be held accountable’
CCP Commissioner Shashank Tripathi, on Monday, found himself on the back foot, after councilors bombarded him about the lethargic and careless attitude of the JEs towards their work. Mayor Uday Madkaikar too pointed out that due to non clearance of the payment for past works; contractors are now refusing to undertake any works of the corporation.
During the meeting, Councilors spoke about how their files, pertaining to various works, have been pending before the JEs for the last three-four years. They also alleged that the JEs are never available for providing service as they always claim to be busy.
Cornered with the councillor’s charges, the commissioner assured to reorganise the entire administrative section, right from work estimation cell to finance cell. He also said that each JE would be given charge of particular wards, which he will have to deal with.
“If the JEs do not work, then they will be held accountable,” he said.
