MARGAO: The incident of wet waste leaking from garbage trucks at Sonsoddo, causing several two-wheeler riders to skid on the mucky road and injure themselves, has exposed the internal differences between the heads of the Margao Municipal Council – the blame game has begun.
MMC Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar on Wednesday alleged that the Chief Officer (CO) was responsible for the mishap at Sonsoddo, as leakage of waste water was also noticed on Monday, prior to the incident. Speaking to reporters Shirodkar said that he will bring this issue to the notice of the Chief Minister and accused the CO of ‘hiding facts’.
“Chief Officers should work as chief officers and not as political leaders. By now, he should have fixed responsibility instead of initiating action against the drivers,” said the Chairperson, issuing a bizarre threat, “I have already informed my leaders that I will lock the office of the Chief Officer and ask him to work sitting in my cabin.”
The Chairperson said that a Junior Engineer and a Supervisor have been deputed at the Sonsoddo site, besides the 40 workers engaged at the site. The Municipal Engineer had instructed the drivers to park the wet waste truck properly, as the leakage of waste water was brought to the notice of the Chief Officer, he added.
Ruling panel councillor calls for Margao Chairperson’s resignation
MARGAO: Councillor Camilo Barretto, who is also from the ruling group, demanded that Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar immediately step down from the post, as he was “not fit to continue”.
Barretto alleged that being Chairperson, it was Shirodkar’s duty to rush to the site; however, only the Curtorim locals and MLA and people from Raia reached the spot- despite the Sonsoddo dump yard falling under the Margao Municipality’s jurisdiction. Responding to the statement, the Chairperson said that councillor Barretto should first keep in mind that he is from the ruling group of BJP councillors.
