Team Herald
Margao: The decision of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) to issue a fresh tender for the collection of Sopo within its jurisdiction has sparked a fresh controversy, with locals and activists questioning the process and eligibility requirements.
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The MMC has issued a fresh tender for Sopo collection with the new contract set to run from January 1 to December 31, 2025.
The tender, valued at Rs. 69.3 lakh, specifies that contractors interested in bidding must demonstrate a minimum turnover of Rs 70 lakh to qualify. The MMC is hopeful that this measure will attract experienced contractors for the task, but critics are skeptical about its implications.
In the past, the collection of Sopo had become a contentious issue during MMC meetings, with several delays in appointing a new contractor. Lack of adequate bids had often led to extensions being granted to the current contractor, which frustrated citizens. Now, the MMC has opted for an e-tendering process to appoint a new contractor for solid waste collection in the Margao Municipal area.
The areas covered under the new tender include prominent locations such as Gandhi Market, New Market, Old Market, and other areas populated with roadside vendors and market traders. Interested bidders can submit their online applications by December 13 before 3 pm, and the tenders will be opened on December 16 at 3 pm at the Margao Municipal Hall.
To participate in the bidding process, contractors must submit a certificate from a chartered accountant confirming a minimum turnover of Rs 70 lakh, along with tax payment certificates for the last three years.
The announcement of the new tender has also attracted sharp criticism from former MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho, who has accused the council of corruption and mismanagement.
“When the state government is indulging in wholesale corruption, why wouldn’t the Municipal Council follow suit?” Coutinho remarked. He pointed to ongoing financial irregularities within the MMC, including the misappropriation of Rs 18 lakh by municipal staff, which remains unresolved, as well as the exposure of another fraud involving an illegal waiver of Rs. 2.39 lakh.
Coutinho also raised concerns about a “silent fraud” ongoing since June 2024, in which Sopo collection was being conducted departmentally, but the collected waste fees were not reaching the municipal treasury. Although MMC Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar had publicly admitted to this issue, Coutinho claimed no action had been taken to recover the lost funds.
Further, Coutinho alleged that the recent increase in the Sopo tender bid amount to over Rs 1 crore was deliberately designed to keep out genuine bidders. He claimed that one of the bidders was made to submit an excessively high bid and then was prevented from completing the formalities after being declared the successful bidder.
“What is the rationale behind not forfeiting the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of the successful bidder who did not complete the tender process?” Coutinho questioned, alleging that the bidder was “planted” to abandon the contract, allowing the council to collect the waste departmentally, particularly during the busy Christmas and Old Market Feast fair period.
In a notable shift, the MMC has revised the terms of the Sopo collection contract, changing the collection period from the traditional financial year to a calendar year (January to December). This move, while seen as an attempt to streamline operations, has raised additional concerns about transparency and the timing of the tender process.
