Team Herald
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council on Tuesday had to face the flak of the opposition BJP councillors while attempting to pass a resolution against demonetisation.
The MMC attempted to pass a resolution on the same on the back drop of municipal labourers who face trouble due to the delay in salary disbursement. MMC has also discussed and resolved to write to the SGPDA to revert the Costa ground land to open space.
The MMC meeting held on Tuesday was stormy after various issues of lack of coordination in paperwork before meeting and the common information sharing of the MMC was seen lacking. The MMC chairperson and the vice-chairperson were taken to task on various issues like the sopo collection from vendors in market, the list of regularisation of employees and also on the resolution to oppose demonetisation.
The chairperson while speaking on the demonetisation issue said, “The labourers of MMC who have no bank accounts no Aadhar cards and no documents have been troubled by the demonetisation move as they are daily wage workers who draw salaries in cash and have no bank accounts. We should have become less cash economy first before being cashless economy,” said Babita Angle, chairperson of MMC.
However, the chairperson was taken head on by the opposition BJP councillors. “Is there any letter or complaint on record with the MMC stating that they have been troubled by this move of Centre? In fact, what is the use to resolve on demonetisation? It is a Central move,” said Rupesh Mahatme.
Meanwhile, during the discussion the market committee conduct on giving various NOCs without proper verification was questioned by the opposition. “The market committee has given NOC for electricity to wooden boxes operating in the market. There are no boxes anymore. There are shutters and they are shops now and they are not sopo payers anymore” complained councillor Ketan Kurtarkar.
He also questioned the MMC after he claimed that there is blood relation required to transfer the ownership of shops in market and some Shaikh Ali has transferred shop to some Maurya. When the Market Committee Chairman Vice Chairperson Dorris Texeira said, “We planned to survey” the opposition said, “Your surveys never happen. You are giving permission to set up bhelpuri and give change of location and change of business. No inspection by council and permissions given on basis of market inspector report. We are objected to the entire market committee.”
The Council resolved to continue to hold Carnival in Fatorda however some Councillors opposed Fatorda and demanded to get it back to Margao.
Tito Cardozo said that they want the route of Fatorda which he said has already been suggested and endorsed by police. Carnival will be held on Feb 26 and 27.
The Council head Chairperson and the administration were grilled by the opposition for tabling list of candidates in the regularization list who are ineligible. The Council resolved to have a Committee to monitor the list of employees due for regularisation. Councillor Rupesh Mahatme alleged that the list has people aged 60 and 70 and also has names who didn’t complete 5 years continuous service. “Give me date and documentation proving their completing of 5 years in service for regularisation. Committee will decide and will take a special meeting with scrutinised names” said Chairperson of MMC Babita viewing the opposition to the present names.
The MMC has also resolved not to renew licence for the Costa ground work and have resolved to tell SGPDA to convert the land from C1 zone to ground or open space in view of scarcity land and open space in the area of Aquem and beyond.
