lGonzaco wins by 12 votes to 8 lSays no agreement in ruling panel to cap his tenure lVows to implement door-to-door waste collection
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Gonzaco Luis Rebello is the new Chairperson of the Margao Municipal Council.
In the election held on Tuesday, Gonzaco defeated Sadanand Naik by 12 votes to 8, to occupy the seat, which he had narrowly lost way back in 2012 in a tie to his foe-turned-friend Arthur D’Silva.
After the election, Gonzaco told the media that he would accord topmost priority to keep Margao clean and promised to implement the door-to-door waste collection scheme. He also promised to tone up the Municipal administration and disclosed plans to lay stress on recovery of huge outstanding tax arrears by giving a free hand to the Municipal employees. “My priority will be to keep Margao clean. The door-to-door waste collection scheme will be implemented in the city with assistance from Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza and DMA Elvis Gomes,” he said.
Saying that the tax arrears have mounted to over Rs five crore in recent times, Gonzaco said that every effort will be made to recover the taxes.
Replying to a question, he said there’s no agreement in place amongst his ruling group which has put a cap on his tenure.
An emotionally choked Gonzaco thanked his fellow councillors, BJP leaders Damu Naik, Bhai Naik and Sharmad Raiturcar, besides the BJP-led government in the State for extending support to his candidature.
Both the groups went through some tense moments when the Presiding Officer Roncon Pereira took the ballots for counting, as both of them were tied at 6-6 at one time, before Gonzaco group burst into joy after he crossed the 11-vote figure in the hotly contested poll.
