Margao civic body, workers heading for confrontation
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council and its employees are heading towards a confrontation over its powers and function relating to removal of encroachments and illegalities.
While the Goa Municipal Employees Association have maintained that elected Councilors have no authority to carry out encroachments, the elected body headed by Chairperson Arthur D’Silva have convened a special meeting of the Council for a debate on encroachments.
The controversy has come to the fore over MMC vice-chairperson Pratima Coutinho’s decision to direct Municipal labourers and officials to remove encroachments during the drive at the KTC bus stand and Borda. The Association has asserted that the Councilor has committed excesses by directing demolition, removal and confiscation of the goods and gaddas during the drive. “Elected Councilors have no authority to carry out such function, which by its own decision, is the duty and responsibility cast on the Chief Officer”, the Association said.
While placing on record its strong objection for the acts of the Council vice-Chairperson, the Association said the elected councilors are not legally empowered, authorized, permitted to directly lead Council staff.
On the other hand, MMC Vice Chairperson Pratima Coutinho said that Tuesday’s special meeting will deliberate on the question whether Councilors can supervise or monitor the anti-encroachment drives. “I want to ask a question. As the vice chairperson of the civic body and chairperson of the market committee, do I have no role to play in the removal of encroachments in the markets and elsewhere? We are only acting as per the complaints received from the citizens and common man alike on encroachments and other illegalities,” she added.
