PANJIM: The ordinary meeting of Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) on Friday, witnessed noisy scenes as opposition councillors flagged various issues concerning shoddy Smart City works, re-tendering of pay parking and Sopo collection contracts without seeking CCP’s approvals and charging of exorbitant money from vendors of Ashtami fair.
The councillors took strong objection to reckless re-digging of roads from at St Inez junction for construction of Smart Road and digging undertaken in Bhatlem areas. They demanded that the works be undertaken in phases as it was causing hardships to motorists and residents due to lack of safety measures.
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Councillor Uday Madkaikar complained that the contractors were not providing proper information to them and demanded audit of all road works and a meeting with the contractors. He also demanded that the monies of contractors be not released.
The meeting also passed a resolution in this regard even as CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate assured them that he would convene a joint meeting of councillors, government officials and all contractors on October 5.
The opposition councillors charged that pay parking contract was extended without following procedure while the Mayor justified extension of contact saying that it was in the interest of CCP.
Councillor Surendra Furtado charged that the pay parking contract has been re-tendered without official sanction. The CCP commissioner issued a letter and money was collected from the contractor for last three months without sending it for confirmation to the Director of Municipal Administration and for government’s concurrence. Where is the money going? How did they give a six months extension without approving it in the CCP meeting?, he demanded to know.
Furtado also alleged scam in the re-tendering of sopo collection without conducting physical verification and that the CCP was losing revenues.
The opposition councillors took the commissioner to task for charging exorbitant rates from vendors putting up stalls during 11-day Ashtami fair held this month. Furtado said that only after he complained that 40 forms of vendors went missing after receiving money, the same was recovered and money was deposited. Madkaikar said that amount was hiked five times and the vendors were at the mercy of the CCP.
