Oppn MMC councillors for immediate filing of writ plea
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MAY 5
Demanding justice in the wake of allegations made by former Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya that some councillors were extorting money from builders, the opposition group in the Margao Municipal Council has demanded that the Chairperson Savio Coutinho should not delay in filing the writ petition in the High Court to unearth the true facts.
Saying that corruption has reached a new high in the Margao civic body, the opposition has demanded that Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao should intervene to stop the rot.
The opposition group felt the Chairperson is aware of the names of the Councillors involved in extortion racket, but accused him for shying away from divulging their names just because the unknown councillors belong to the ruling group.
The opposition group led by former vice-chairperson Narayan Fondekar demanded to know why the Chairperson is seeking the opinion of the Municipal legal counsel when the Council has resolved to file a writ petition in the High Court. “This will not only cause delay in filing of the case, but there is doubt raised in many quarters whether the Municipal lawyer would give the green signal to file a case against a former Chief Officer”, he said, while demanding that the Chairperson should lead the Councillors in filing a special leave petition.
Former chairpersons Johnson Fernandes and Piedade Noronha expressed their shock that the Chairperson has decided to seek opinion of the Municipal lawyer when the Council at the special meeting on Tuesday has resolved to file the petition. “There should not be any delay as the allegations made by the former Chief Officer has cast suspicions on all the Councillors”, Johnson said.
Former Chairperson Kamlini Painginkar also came down heavily on the ruling body saying that the opposition group of councillors are being discriminated by the Council in providing workers for pre-monsoon and other works.
Similar sentiments was expressed by Councillor Ciriaca Rodrigues, who said that the Municipality has not yet started the work of cleaning drains in her ward as part of the pre-monsoon works.
