Team Herald
MARGAO: In the past, government funds granted to Margao Municipal Council (MMC) for development works have remained unutilised. The reason is that the councillors failed to submit the proposals at the right time which resulted in returning of the funds back to the government. However, now, Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes managed to get approvals for the two separate works from the Department of Urban Development on November 11.
Fernandes said the Department of Urban Development has accorded approval to the development works worth nearly Rs 43.2 lakh which include two separate proposals.
“Every year nearly Rs 5 crore is granted through the department for various development works to be carried out in the municipal jurisdiction, and for which the concerned ward councillors need to submit their proposals,” said Fernandes.
He further said each ward councillor can carry out development work worth Rs 20 lakh but proposal is a must, and it should get the approval of the concerned department.
“Now, after pursuing the matter with the concerned department, the approval has been given to two different development works, which include one in Ward 24 and another in Ward 12,” the CO said.
As per the approval order, works worth nearly Rs 23.3 lakh will be carried out in Ward 24 and beautification work near Gomant Vidya Niketan will be done by utilising Rs 19.90 lakh, for which e-tendering process will be done
“Unutilised grant and interest earned on unutilised grants may be refunded to government treasury”, stated the order by Gurudas P Pilarnekar, Director of Urban Development.
