The ten councillors of the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC), during the time of elections had promised voters that their work will be done on getting elected. However, it is now three months and not a single new development project has been undertaken by the local body, locals assert.
Repairs to roads, construction of storm water drains, street illumination, and collection of door to door garbage is yet to commence.
Chaya Soiru Komarpant’s husband Soiru Komarpant while speaking to Herald said that during the recent feast of St Tereza Church at Chaudi, he spent money from his own pocket to beautify the area and its surroundings. He also noted that they were compelled to do so because of the lack of cooperation and drive from the staff of the CMC.
Another councillor said that the Chief Officer, Chandrakant Shetkar visits the CMC office only for two days in a week and the rest of the time, he is engrossed at the Sub-Divisional office where he holds additional charge as Canacona taluka sub-divisional magistrate.
When contacted, Shetkar said that the CMC is limited in the municipal area while he has to look into the matters of the entire taluka, attend to litigations placed before him and that apart, he has to make many site visits.
Further, he added that he works beyond office hours at the CMC office to clear files and other work that people need done.
Komarpant criticized the local MLA, Ramesh Tawadkar for not taking any interest in the development work in the CMC area but is more devoted to development his village, Amonem where a handful of people live.
Komarpant said that Tawadkar was neglecting Canacona Municipal Council because the council is headed by non-BJP people and added that an MLA should work for the people irrespective of which caste and political party they hail from.
“The CMC has already tendered work worth Rs 2 crore and the tall claim was refuted by ex-chairperson Simon Rebello stating that the work that is tendered now was undertaken during his tenure but they stalled because of the election code that came into force,” said Rama Gaonkar.
The view of the public is that the newly elected council members are not visiting their wards and are busier doing their own work.
Efforts by Herald to contact the male councilors were an exercise in futility and they refused to answer phone calls made to them while before the elections they were prompt to answer the same phone calls.
