MARGAO: A day after Margao City Fathers demanded the transfer of Chief Officer, Naveen S L, IAS, members of the civil society and city-based NGOs on Tuesday vowed to oppose tooth and nail any attempt by the government to transfer the Chief Officer from Margao.
The activists and citizens demanded that the government should not fall prey to the pressure tactics of the City Fathers, who they said were increasingly getting frustrated over the chief officer’s host of measures to make the Municipal administration citizens friendly.
Armed with placards, the citizens slammed the City Fathers for demanding the Chief Officer’s transfer. They gave a clean chit to the Chief Officer for doing good work for the benefit of the city and the common man
Adv Rajiv Gomes said the Chief Officer has come out with a host of measures to streamline the administration and gave credit for the IAS officer to mob out over Rs three crore tax arrears. He said that citizens would attend the Council meeting scheduled later this week to ensure that the City Fathers do not victimise the Chief Officer.
Aquem resident Andrew Sequeira said the citizens would not allow the councillors and the government to have their way in transferring an efficient officer.
Jose Marie Miranda pointed out that the citizens have appreciated the role played by the MMC chief officer in recovering the tax arrears, while former municipal vice chairperson Ethel Lobo said the citizens in general would oppose any move to transfer the chief officer out from office.
A delegation of the citizens later called on the chief officer to express their solidarity and to reassure him of their support against any move to get him transferred out of Margao.
