MARGAO: Special meeting of Margao Municipal Council (MMC) turned stormy on Tuesday over the issue pertaining to granting permission to a private party for the beautification of traffic island without resolution and not following the law. Speaking to media Chief Officer, Agnelo Fernandes admitted the mistake for not following the correct procedure. He however said, “There are records that permissions are granted for the traffic islands even without signing the MoU and council resolutions.”
Councillor Damodar Shirodkar, along with others, charged Lyndon Pereira, chairperson of MMC for not taking the issue seriously.
“After receiving a complaint from the councillor I immediately put the note to the Chief Officer to revoke the license but no action was taken,” Lyndon justified his stand. He even denied signing the papers to grant permission and showed ignorance about the MoU.
He further urged the CO to revoke the licence immediately.
And it was after a long deliberation including heated arguments council resolved to revoke the license given to one Seby D’Melo for the beautification of traffic island.
This special meeting was called mainly to discuss the same issue which was raised by Councillor Damodar Shirodkar, asking for inquiry into the matter.
Damodar brought to the notice of the council that one D’Melo had applied for the permission with regard to beautification of the Traffic Island near Molio Pharmacy for which due process was not followed by the civic body.
“Seby had applied on October 27 but the application was not put up for discussion at the meeting held on the next day, on October 28. However, even a memorandum of understanding was signed and payment was done at the time when the council meeting was going on in the hall,” he stated.
Damodar further alleged that even the labours of the civic body were used by the private party to clean the traffic island.
He charged the chairperson over the issue and the illegal procedure done by the civic body to grant the permission that too without the resolution of the council.
Councillor Sagun Naik and others supported Damodar in the matter and demanded justification from the chairperson. They even alleged that CP has signed on the papers of the concerned file.
