TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: With the Cuncolim civic body under the scanner of the crime branch over the purchase and delivery of CFL lamps, questions have come to the fore as to where have the lamps finally gone if the civic body has not installed the same in its jurisdiction as claimed by the investigating agency.
While speculations are rife in Cuncolim whether the lamps had found its way to Sanguem during the tenure of former urban development minister Joaquim Alemao, the former Cuncolim legislator has firmly denied the allegations. “I had never issued any instructions, whether oral or written, to the Cuncolim municipality or any other municipality to shift or transfer any lamps to Sanguem or any other municipal area”, remarked Joaquim, when his attention was drawn to reports that the lamps might have found its way to Sanguem where son Yuri was making preparations to contest the 2012 polls. He, however, pointed out that there was a practice in place wherein municipalities were sharing certain items on mutual understanding, but hastened to add that he has no knowledge whatsoever about the lamps sanctioned for Cuncolim.
He said the government only plays the role of approving projects and allotting funds after receiving the proposal from the civic bodies. “The former Cuncolim municipal chief officer Shivaji Desai will be a in better position to throw light on the purchase and delivery of the lamps”, he said, even as he maintained that CMC councillors had told then told him having received the lamps for their respective wards.
In the first information report (FIR), the DMA has alleged that the purchase, delivery and receipt of electrical goods is a suspicious and doubtful transaction. Questions are also being raised whether the goods have been installed in the Cuncolim civic jurisdiction or somewhere else. “Right now, the ACB probe has revealed suspicions and doubts about the purchase and delivery transaction. Criminal investigations will reveal the names of those involved in the episode”, remarked a DMA official.
