TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council on Wednesday gave its nod for the capping of the Sonsodo waste dumping site, even as the Civic body resolved to inform the PWD Chief Engineer to depute a senior engineer to prepare estimates of the work carried out by Fomento at Sonsodo to bring about an amendment to the Concession agreement.
At the Council meeting held on Wednesday, the Council gave its nod for the revised estimates amounting to Rs 7.76 crore for the capping project, with the City Fathers resolving to forward the proposal to the Director of Municipal Administration for funds.
The Sonsodo issue generated heat at the meeting with Councillors demanding to know why the chief officer and the councillors require permission to visit the waste dumping site. When former chairperson Arthur D’Silva sought to know from the municipal engineer how Fomento can claim additional Rs 2.58 crore for the project, he was informed that a senior PWD engineer would ascertain whether Fomento has to be paid additional amount or vice versa. The City Fathers also raised the issue of transportation of mud from Sonsodo to Nuvem when there are many low-lying areas within city limits awaiting land filling.
The contentious issue of initiating action against Municipal Union leader Anil Shirodkar for going to the media on municipal affairs also came up for discussion.
After Chief Officer Deepali Naik explained in detail how Shirodkar has violated the service rules by going to the media, Councillor Tito Cardozo demanded to know from Chairperson Dayanand Deulkar how the issue was mentioned in the agenda when the Chief Officer is empowered to act as per the prevailing rules. “Why was this issue brought before the meeting? Is it an attempt to bind the councillors to any action proposed by the Chief Officer?” he demanded to know.
Deulkar later told the media that no resolution was adopted on the issue, leaving the Chief Officer to act as per rules.
