MARGAO: Taking serious note of the frequent transfers of the Chief Officers within a period of short span of ‘A’ class Margao Municipal Council, city fathers and citizens having concern for their town have claimed that such type of transfers are hampering the works of the civic body very badly.
Speaking to O Heraldo, several citizens have also urged the government not to bow down before political pressures. Transfers of chief officers within a short span of time are also affecting the legal matters pertaining to the hearing of the cases.
A recent transfer of Manuel Barretto, Chief Officer of Margao Municipal Council has raised several questions among the citizens, including city fathers. They have claimed that works pertaining to the civic body are delayed as a result of frequent transfers of the chief officer.
It is pertinent to note that the transfer of Barretto is the third one in less than a year. The government has appointed Gaurish Shankwalkar, who is yet to take charge of the civic body as the new Chief Officer of the Margao Municipality. Barretto had taken charge in October 2022 after the transfer of former Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes.
Before the transfer of Agnelo Fernandes, young officer Rohit Kadam served the civic body from May 20 to October 3, 2022. Ajit Panchwadkar was also ordered to take charge of the civic body in December 9, 2019 but within a few months of the time period –that is in October, 2020, he too got transfer order from the government.
It has been observed that the Margao Municipality failed to get a long serving Chief Officer for the last several years, which has caused major setbacks to the civic body pertaining to the developmental works. Speaking to O Heraldo, Councillor Mahesh Amonkar expressed disappointment with the constantly transferred chief officers and demanded that the government take serious note of the impact his has on the Municipality.
“The chair of chief officer being an important part of the civic body, several developmental works, besides files pertaining to administrative works get hampered due to the frequent transfers”, he claimed.
Amonkar further said that there are some important decisions which an officer having additional charge cannot be taken.
Camilo Barretto, another councillor said that such types of transfers are affecting the common man, especially in legal matters. “There are hearings being conducted with regard to legal matters of the citizens which are definitely getting hampered as a result of transfers of the chief officer in a short span to time period. Every Chief Officer who takes charge of the chair makes a point to study the legal matters before issuing orders. There are instances where in a single case is being gone through several chief officers causing major hardships to the concerned applicant”, he stated. According to Barretto, any chief officer should serve the municipality at least for two years and the government needs to take this issue seriously.
Mahesh Naik, a citizen of Margao expressed frustrations over the transfer game of chief officer in Margao Municipality. “It seems that the government is least bothered about the ill effect of the unstable chief officers. Third chief officer within a period of one year is like a joke. It is harassment towards the citizens of Margao”, he charged.
