The 2017 Assembly election Model Code of Conduct has its own novel problems. The 60-day code of conduct has affected the administration in a cognizable way. The Municipal Councils of Goa, especially the A class Council of Margao except for the daily works, is having a tough time to negotiate their way through the code and get the major works of the town executed. The MMC is presently carrying out all the most necessary works using their own labour but the bigger jobs which are to be done jointly by other agencies may not see execution due to the code.
The code of conduct for the Panchayat Elections will come into force in the month of April and the fear of losing precious time for the execution of several pending works is now lurking large.
The Model Code of Conduct this election is novel in many ways. The code is extended to 60 days due to the elections in other states. Results of Goa Assembly election 2017 will be out on March 11 and the code of conduct will be relaxed after that. The works of the Councils of Goa have, however, halted for now. The councils can’t hold meetings and cannot pass any resolutions. The code of conduct came into force from Jan 4, but what happens to the works which the Councils resolved before it, is a question unanswered. Several important and time bound works were resolved by the MMC and were supposed to issue work orders. Model Code of Conduct, however, halted the works in January itself. Now, only after March 11 the MMC will be able to issue work orders for all these works. The Margao Municipal Council is yet to start its pre-monsoon works. These works need to get over before March but no steps have been taken to assure the execution of the same.
The Code of Conduct for the panchayat elections will come in force in the May leaving just one-month breather for the MMC to take policy decisions on the works. Renewal of the contracts of daily wage workers has still not been done. The Margao Municipal Council has issued tenders for cleaning of wells in 2016. This work couldn’t be executed due to the fast approached rains last year. A similar condition has arrived this year due to code of conduct. In addition to that the major works of cleaning the nallahs and also checking the low lying areas of the town and cleaning of big and small drains and drainages is pending now.
Another councillor Tito Cardozo said “Along with the works of wells cleaning, the renewal of the daily wage workers’ contracts and the orders of the 61 works tendered earlier have to be issued. These are held up due to the code. By the time the results are out the code for the panchayat elections will be in force. How will the works be executed in this manner?”
Chief Officer of Margao Yashwant Tawde said, “The UP elections will happen in 8 phases and only 2 phases have happened till now. The code of conduct will remain in force because if it is relaxed the ECI feels that it will have impact on the Punjab and UP elections.”
The Chief Officer said further: “We have heard that the Election Commission may relax the code and if it happens it will be a good facilitation for the MMC.”
The MMC has always been criticised for being late and half ready for monsoons every year. A similar condition looks to be forced on to the MMC this year and there is no definite sign of relief any soon.
