CUNCOLIM: The newly-formed Cuncolim Municipal Council (CMC) is subjected to arrays of challenge. Yuri Alemao supported governing group needs to hurdle huge blocks to fulfill the promises they made to make their way to run the council. They being the Opposition group to the State government they are in a even tighter situation to yield a better administration without or minimal government support under the chairmanship of Laxman Naik.
DEVELOPMENT WORKS
Complete developmental work and to get more funds for development tops the chart of the council. Two big commercial projects are already completed by previous council but one project worth Rs 16 crores and another project worth Rs 50 lakh are ready for business but government has not handed over these projects to new council.
Secondly, the governing group is also hesitating to approach State government or MLA for required help. Council’s affiliation to Yuri turning to be the biggest hurdle for development.
It’s apparent that Naik and his eight other councillors need to keep political affiliation aside and take help from local MLA to get the authority of commercial building projects.
BUDGET AND FUNDING
The budget figures show that council coffers are empty.
Last budget showed council has only Rs 2.5 crore funds available out of which council can spend just Rs 1.6 crore for development works in all fourteen wards.
Last council had decided to carryout important development works but that to was rejected because present governing group objected for same. There is a huge list of required development works across all fourteen wards and ward councillors are asking for better facilities.
Last time council had received Rs 6 crore development grant under Fourteen Finance Plan. Looking at the political differences between the governing group of council and local MLA it looks difficult that council will get helping hand from government. Council is not self-sufficient to carry out development work by its own so the biggest hurdle before this Yuri supported council will be availability of funds.
WAGES AND PAYMENTS
Administration finds difficult to pay wages to daily wage workers and other employees.
Garbage workers and daily wage employees have to wait for months to get their regular wages. Due to lack of funds various bills are kept pending. It’s a fact that no one wants to take council work because they complain that bills are not getting paid on time.
CCTV cameras are not in function from last so many months and the one who installed these cameras is not turning up because his previous bills are still due. Council was asked to return Rs 3 crore unused funds back to DMA to clear some contractor’s bills.
no MAINTENANCE
Maintenance of various projects needs to address in urgency. Cuncolim Freedom fighters memorial, Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial, Indoor stadium at Maddicoto, Cuncolim Municipal hall, Council building, Garbage Plant needs to be repaired and upgraded for this Council needs fund unfortunately Council is helpless to maintain this Historical importance projects. In fact Yuri Alemao had shown his interest to repair Cuncolim Freedom fighters’ memorial but due to people’s objection council withdraw its hand. The Challenge before CP Laxman Naik and his team is to get funds for maintenance. Can you believe Council is helpless to ask its regular employees to come in uniform? Because from last three years Council has not paid uniform allowances to employees. It’s a sorry affairs told by one officer on Annonimity that even to replace the electric bulb or to change computer cartilages they have to wait a day. Reason no money.
GARBAGE
Managing garbage affairs is another challenge the new council. Directorate of municipal administration has fixed garbage rates to all municipal bodies.CMC is doing door to door garbage collection. To make CMC self sufficient in garbage collection and disposal DMA had fixed Rs 720 annually as sanitation and garbage fees. New Council reduced the sanitation fees to Rs.365 but it’s not known how the financially week and helpless council will manage the garbage affairs? From last two months council has stopped door to door garbage collection saying workers are not joining duties because of Covid fear. Fact is council is paying just five Hundred rupees per day to garbage workers that too they have to wait for three to four months and they are not insured nor getting protection equipments Council officers has a only one answer for all problems sorry no funds.
IMPLICATIONS OF CITIZEN CHARTER
Thirty five years old CMC is functioning without Citizen Charter. Citizens are asking implication of Citizen Charter but the officers and employees do not want the Citizen Charter because they do not want to be accountable towards the job. One of the young Councillors raised this issue of Citizen Charter in recent Council meeting.
Collection of huge recoveries is another challenge in front of new Council. It was told in a meeting that total recovery pending is more than Rs 2 crore. Council has to make accountable to concern officers and employees to collect the pending recovery. In fact last council had signed an agreement with one private bank to collect different council fees including house tax and sanitation fees going door to door unfortunately this system failed to cick off.
COUNCIL WEBSITE
Upgradation and maintaining Council website has not been done since long. During the tenure of former Chairperson Devendra Dessai, Council has started its own website to connect with stakeholders digitally and make people aware about Council functioning unfortunately CMC failed to maintain it. CP and all other Councilors have to work out some remedy to update and maintain Website.
