Team Herald
MARGAO: The CAG rapped the Cuncolim Municipal Council for its failure in maintaining an eco-friendly garden at the Garbage treatment site in Cuncolim. According to the CAG report, the scrutiny of records of the Council and visit to the site in March 2017 by CAG showed no evidence of beautification and landscaping work except for some shrubs and scattered garbage.
The CAG report criticised the Council for lack of maintenance of the site stating that “beautification of garbage treatment site without ensuring its upkeep and maintenance resulted in a wasteful expenditure of Rs 48.47 lakh as also a failure in achieving the objectives of the project.”. The CAG also held the State Government liable for the loss, stating that “While approving the project, the State Government should have also ensured that the Council has the necessary wherewithal to maintain the site post-beautification on a sustainable basis.”
In 2010, the Cuncolim Municipal Council had decided to construct an eco-friendly garden within the area of its garbage treatment plant (28,395 sq mt) by beautification and landscaping of the site. The beautification project was justified on the grounds that the tree cover would help improve the environment and act as a wind barrier for any smell that may emanate from the plant.
The State Government approved the proposal in November 2010 and released a grant of Rs 55.75 lakh to the Council. The work was awarded to a contractor who commenced the work in July 2011 and completed in September 2011. The contractor handed over the developed site, containing lawns, shrubs, trees, plants etc, to the Council in August 2012. The Council made a total payment of Rs 48.47 lakh to the contractor in May 2013.
The Council stated that due to shortage of manpower and poor financial condition, it was difficult to maintain the garbage treatment plant leading to its frequent breakdown. The Council stated that when the plant itself is not functioning, maintenance work post-beautification was a distant thought.
