MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is facing severe criticism from a group of Margao citizens for its alleged neglect and failure to maintain cleanliness in the town, particularly in Ward No 20, leading up to the festive season of Christmas.
Expressing their disappointment, Savio Coutinho, former MMC Chairperson and Margao local, highlighted the presence of roadside shrubs, overgrown bushes, and footpaths covered in grass, mud, and filth. He pointed out that piles of coconut husks are accumulating at various locations across multiple wards.
Traditionally, it has been a practice to clean up Colmorod, Aquem Baixo, and the four-lane road leading up to the Navelim Church before the feast of Our Lady of Rosary in mid-November.
However, this year, the stretch remains shabby and overgrown, even on the eve of Christmas, rued Coutinho.
He expressed concern for the safety of pedestrians attending midnight Mass for Christmas, as they are forced to navigate footpaths obstructed by grass and bushes. Radha Kavlekar, another citizen, challenged the MMC’s claim of facing disposal issues for waste, stating that the Council has reportedly spent a substantial amount on private grass-cutting contractors. Kavlekar urged the MMC to disclose the amount spent on hiring grass-cutting machines and questioned the allocation of funds.
The citizens demanded immediate action from the Council to clean the streets and footpaths, ensuring a safer environment for pedestrians.
“There was a time when it was claimed that the sanitation fees collected were inclusive of the cleaning of streets and roads. Where is this money going?” questioned another local, Lalan Parsekar.
