Team Herald
VASCO: As many as 14 councillors of Mormugao Municipal Council on Thursday abstained from the ordinary council meeting, giving rise to speculation that all was not well within the ruling city fathers.
It is learnt that these councillors are upset over delayed approvals of their development files by the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA). There are reports that they have threatened to boycott the next meeting if these files are not sanctioned.
However, Mormugao chairperson Girish Borker claimed that “all is well” within the councillors. It was former chairperson and councillor Deepak Naik who voiced his concerns about the delayed development files by the DMA. He said that the development files are stuck in the DMA office for the last two months and that they had warned the chief officer that they would boycott the council meeting if these files were not approved and work orders issued. The development files for all 25 wards are pending, according to Naik.
On the other hand, Borker said, “I cannot comment on why they (14 councillors) didn’t attend the meeting. If there are any problems, they can always approach me or the chief officer. We have consistently placed development works across all wards, but the files must go through a process at the DMA, which can take time. I have already been informed that the development files have been signed, and we expect the approvals within the next two weeks.”