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MARGAO: Even as doubts are raised over the visit of Ahmedabad-based waste management consultant P U Asnani to Margao on February 23, all eyes are focused on the Margao Municipal Council over the non-clearance of cheque payment of Rs 1.30 crore to Fomento Green.
It is learnt that the Fomento Green has stopped work on the land-fill facility at Sonsodo after the civic body was found dilly dallying on the payment of the first installment amounting to Rs 1.30 crore.
Sources in the corridors of the civic body said though the Municipal Chief Officer had cleared the cheque amounting to Rs 1.30 crore over a week ago, the cheque is awaiting signature from the Municipal Chairperson Arthur D’Silva.
Fomento Green has claimed that the payment of first installment does not require certification from a consultant as the concession agreement mandates payment of the amount coinciding with the signing of the agreement.
Meanwhile, sources said that P U Asnani’s visit to the civic body on February 23 is now in doubt, raising questions over the appointment of a consultant to certify bills raised by Fomento Green for setting up the solid waste management plant at Sonsodo.
It was on the instructions of the High Powered Committee headed by Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, that the civic body had invited the Ahmedabad-based consultant to visit the Municipality in connection with the consultancy work.
When contacted, the Municipal Chairperson said that Asnani’s visit appears doubtful now, and has no idea whether the Ahmedabad-based consultant would visit the civic body or not.
