TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
VASCO: Alleging manipulation in the minutes of the council meeting, the opposition councillors at Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) have petitioned the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to telecast live the proceedings of the council meetings.
In a letter submitted to the DMA, Councillors Nany D’Souza, Lavina D’Souza, Sunita Landez and Pascoal D’Souza alleged that minutes of the meetings are not recorded properly.
Once the meeting is over, some senior councillors rewrite the minutes as per their whims and fancies and as such, there is an urgent need to record the proceedings of the council meeting and telecast it live, they stated.
The aggrieved councillors also complained that the MMC had failed to take up developmental works in their wards.
‘The gutters and dustbins from our wards are overflowing and even if municipal labourers come to work in our wards, they are immediately withdrawn leaving the work incomplete,’ stated their petition.
When contacted, the MMC chief officer confirmed having received a copy of the letter. “Telecasting live the council meetings can be done only after getting the approval of the council,” he said.
MMC Chairperson Fiola Rego, however, insisted that there has been no discrimination in undertaking works in the municipality.
“I have not differentiated between the wards represented by ruling and opposition councillors. I have deputed labourers in all 20 wards to take up cleanliness work of the wards,” said Rego.
“I will shortly visit all 20 wards along with the respective councillor and take up issues based on the urgency of the work,” Rego added.
Asked if she is aware of a letter demanding live telecast of the council meetings, Rego replied: “I am aware of the letter and I will place the letter before the next council meeting to decide about the live telecast of the council meeting.”
