CUNCOLIM: Agitated over the lethargic attitude of the Cuncolim Municipal Council (CMC) for failing to start the pre-monsoon work, the residents fear that town would be flooded during monsoons if the civic body fails to commence the work by this week.
Locals blamed the elected representatives and the officers for the current mess. They alleged that in all 12 wards, the CMC has not even started pre-monsoon work and claimed that the civic body is least bothered to take up the work.
They further alleged that the council officers and elected representatives have been giving excuses of election code for not starting with the work.
The CMC claims that they are yet to get permission to hire daily wage workers.
A councillor informed Herald that the civic body does not have full-time Chief Officer and that’s the reason the work has not started. People blamed the councillors for delay in the work. Locals alleged that the Council is busy in toppling the chairperson and is least bothered about the developmental work.
They also claimed that the council is yet to clean the drainages in all 12 wards including the drains and nullahs in the market. A drain and nullah in the Cuncolim market are filled with mud. The residents claim that a natural nullah in the market was damaged by the contractor while undertaking the GSUDA project work.
“Pre monsoon works are delayed due to technical staff and Chief Officer’s negligence. It was duty of CO and CMC’s technical section to prepare a detailed draft report and get approval from Grade A Municipal Engineer which they failed to do,” Videsh Dessai, CMC Acting Chairperson alleged.
“I’m personally pursuing the matter and will meet DMA and get approval to engage labourers for pre-monsoon work. We will complete pre-monsoon work by end of this month. It was delayed due to various unavoidable reasons,” Dessai added.
