TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The controversy surrounding Margao Municipal Council’s sopo collection tender has come under the scanner of the Director of Municipal Administration.
DMA Elvis Gomes has called for a detailed report from the civic body on the alleged irregularities in the sopo contract after the contractor abandoned the contract after two months.
Sources in the know said the DMA has taken serious note of the irregularities since the civic body made no effort to seek bank guarantee from the sopo contractor. Gomes, who is believed to have telephonically spoken to civic officials, has threatened to recover the dues from the concerned employee if no action is initiated to rectify the anomaly and protect the interests of the Municipality.
Sources said MMC Chief Officer Narayan Sawant has on Friday evening submitted a report to the DMA’s office stating the sequence of events and the failure of the civic employees to seek bank guarantee from the sopo contractor.
It is learnt that the DMA’s office has mooted strict action against any official or employee, if found guilty, in abetting the irregularity.
Questions are being raised in the corridors of the Municipality as to how the sopo contract was awarded to the contractor without seeking the mandatory bank guarantee. Questions are also raised on whether the concerned officials had intimated their seniors over the payment of the bank guarantee and the monthly instalment payable by the contractor.
