Team Herald
MARGAO: The State’s commercial capital is set for a major change with the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) now deciding on various matters, which could further delay the pending works.
Re-tendering of the multi level parking building, signing of the Addendum agreement with Fomento Green, appointing a new sopo collector and having empanelled architects are some of the changes.
Speaking to media persons MMC chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudessai admitted that there was a lapse on the part of the administration in letting the amount payable by the sopo collector go way above the bank guarantee presented to the Council particularly when his cheque towards security deposit had bounced.
It may be recalled that MMC had awarded the contract to collect sopo to Aaron Costa Fernandes and he had submitted Rs 16 lakh as bank guarantee while the Rs 6 lakh cheque he had submitted towards security deposit had bounced.
However, he did not pay three installments to the MMC following which his contract has been terminated and the council now has to recover around Rs 28 lakh as installment payments from him while it has only Rs 16 lakh as bank guarantee.
“It has been a lapse on the part of the administration. We shall be moving
under the Negotiable Instruments Act against him we also have to find ways and means to recover the money he owes to the Council,” she said.
FOMENTO GREEN: Dr Babita also asked the Chief Officer to write to Fomento Green to discuss the Sonsoddo matter with them so that a solution can be found. The Council has already paid Fomento Green Rs 2.4 crore towards the infrastructure they have set up at Sonsoddo.
She admitted that composting is not happening at Sonsoddo and admitted that Fomento Green’s staff is not even present at the site as only three staff members were seen the other day, who cannot handle the quantum of garbage generated per day.
Besides, she pointed out that the garbage at the dump site has increased in volume since the time the bio-remedial segregation work was done, implying that garbage instead of being treated continues to be dumped at the site.
Admitting that the scope of work has changed in present times and an Addendum agreement has to be changed to include new works as against the agreement signed in 2007, she said the agreement submitted by Fomento Green is being whetted by the council advocate.
MULTI-LEVEL PARKING: The multi level parking building has taken another setback with the Council now having no option but to retender the work as the Sangli-based company has failed to pay the security deposit as promised by him.
It may be recalled that foundation stone for the project was laid on September 15, 2015 and the work was tendered to a Sangli-based company. However, just before the work could commence, Goods and Service Tax was introduced and that delayed the same as it had to be calculated.
On September 4, 2018, TCP Minister Vijai Sardessai spoke to the contractor and called him for a meeting. At the September 8 MMC meeting, the chairperson informed that the party had agreed to undertake the work and the Council would renew the contract that had expired while he would pay the security deposit.
However, till date the party has not approached the council nor has he made the necessary payment and hence there is no option but to retender the works, said Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik.
EMPANELLED ARCHITECTS: Dr Babita disclosed that two parties have submitted proposals for being empanelled as architects of Margao Municipal Council. “Goa State Urban Development Authority will directly take up the work approved by the empanelled party,” she said, while admitting that the Council is yet to decide on which party to empanel and did not rule out the possibility of having both parties to give scope for competition.
The two parties are Mumbai-based Udai and Haryana-based Spaces. They will be asked to give a presentation of the works undertaken following which MMC will decide on the matter.
—
MMC to re-launch drive against plastic carry bags
MARGAO: After a gap of two months, Margao Municipal Council (MMC) will re-launch its drive against plastic carry bags but with a difference by taking stakeholders such as the vendors and even fish vendors into confidence.
MMC Chairperson Dr Babita Prabhudessai in consultation with the Chief Officer Siddhivinayak Naik has decided to call for a meeting with the vendors to give them an alternative to plastic bags and also consult them on the deadline to phase out the plastic carry bags they have in stock.
Significantly, a sample of a biodegradable carry bag was sent to the Goa State Pollution Control Board around four months ago by then chief officer Johnson, but till date the board is yet to give its report.
Since the time Siddhivinayak Naik took charge as chief officer on July 19, 2018, the drive against plastic carry bags took a back seat as the administration was now seized with revenue collection by identifying commercial establishments that were not registered.
However, the Council has now decided to conduct random checks in all three markets namely SGPDA Market, New Market and Gandhi Market. In fact at Gandhi market all vendors including fruit and vegetable vendors have gone back to using plastic bags.
Siddhivinayak said the Block Level Officer duty given to the municipal staff including the two market inspectors is proving to be a deterrent as municipal work is hampered. However, he said he would get cracking on the ban on plastic carry bags so that it becomes a reality by the year-end and 2019 will see Margao free of plastic carry bags.
