MARGAO: A group Margao Municipal Council (MMC) councillors took strong objections to the utilization of funds allotted under the 14th and 15th Finance Commission for transportation services and demanded to make best use of the grants only for developmental works.
However, the MMC
resolved to make payment for transportation of wet waste from Sonsodo to Cacora Treatment facility to Goa Waste Management Corporation.
Putting his foot down, Councillor Raju Naik vociferously argued and stated that the law does not permit the civic body to use the funds allocated under 14th and 15 Finance commission for services other than developmental works.
“The grants are allocated only for the developmental works, however, despite knowing the facts, the civic body now and then uses the same funds for making different types of payments rather than utilizing it on the developmental works,” he alleged. He called on the civic body to show more seriousness towards the collection of revenue such as house and trade taxes and utilize the same money for making payments.
Councillor Puja Naik and Lyndon Pereira too supported Naik and demanded to stop utilizing the funds of 14th finance commission for making payments such as transportation.
However, after the issue was raised by Councillor Sadanand Naik, the civic body resolved to request the GWMC to reduce the bills on transportation of wet garbage. “The bills indicate that the rates of transportation on trips are too high,” he claimed.
On the other hand, the civic body also resolved to float tenders for door to door garbage collections, but at the same time urged that the concerned bidder to take serious note of the black spots.
However, many councillors expressed their objections pertaining to the bidding amount of sopo collection.
“Details of workers, besides black spots, be identified and informed to the council by the contractor engaged in door to door garbage collections”, said Councillor Ghanashyam Shirodkar.
Councillors claimed that the amount of Rs. 1.77 crore is too high and there are more possibilities that nobody will apply for the same.
“There is an urgent need of pre-bidding deliberation or the civic body will be forced to spend money due to the high bidding amount”, said Sagun Naik.
At the special meeting chaired by Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar on Monday, it was also resolved to float the tender for door to door garbage collection.
Meanwhile, the civic body also resolved to go ahead with construction of concrete road with gutter, rainwater harvesting tank, ramp etc on the eastern side of Sonsodo.
