Raising the issue at a council meeting on Friday, councillor Lavina D’Souza questioned how the town’s name had been changed to Sambhaji, which was reflected in the new ration cards issued to the people. She also asked the MMC to question the Civil Supplies inspector on the same.
“We are in the city of Vasco da Gama. How was the name suddenly changed? We demand that the name be changed to Vasco, or else people will come on the streets. We all support the resolution seeking deletion of Sambhaji and retaining of Vasco forever,” said Lavina.
Most councillors expressed similar concerns, and finally, passed a resolution to seek withdrawal of the gazette notification issued on March 17, 2011.
The MMC also decided to waive the fees for the disposal of biomedical waste generated by Cottage Hospital, Chicalim.
While discussing the minimum rate of wages for drivers and workers, MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik said that many daily wage workers were unfit and not performing their duties. He asked the council to identify such workers either give them a break or terminate their services.
After being informed that municipal officials were facing hardships due to lack of drivers, the MMC adopted a resolution to appoint five daily-wage drivers.
The MMC also formed a five-member management committee for the municipal high school. Councillor Kritesh Gaonkar was appointed as chairman, Councillor Fedrick Henriques as manager, and councillors Yatin Kamurlekar, Bhawana Bhosle and Reema Sonurlekar as members.
The meeting also saw lengthy discussions on other issues, including a need for a full-time chief officer and accounts officer, construction of speedbreakers near schools, opening of separate accounts for municipal pensioners, appointment of a gas welder, seeking PDA approval for the multi-storey parking project funded by GSUDA, and the hoardings opposite Dabolim airport.
Naik informed that he had already taken a decision to take action against the hoardings, which had been erected without permission from the MMC. He also assured that all other hoardings which violated norms would be removed.
