Team Herald
MARGAO: Town and Country Planning Minister and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has said that he is committed to changing the functioning of the Margao Municipal Council which, he said, is suffering from a paralysis of policy making.
Speaking to media persons, he said it was appalling that even though the councilors were clean and honest, the MMC was perceived as a corrupt entity primarily because of the technical section, which he said he would replace to give the council a new look and an honest team.
“MMC is a hotbed of indecisiveness and that needs to be changed,” he said adding that he has identified what is ailing the council and will soon start setting things right.
“We have given MMC a dedicated chief officer as that was a demand not only from the councilors but also from the people,” he said hoping that the new CO Johnson Fernandes does not perceive his appointment as a demotion.
“He has been brought primarily to improve the revenue collection which has literally collapsed and also manage the garbage including its collection and treatment at Sonsodo,” he said adding that once these two tasks are achieved he could be sent back as Additional Collector.
Admitting that there were some differences between the chairperson and some councilors, he said he had clarified the misgivings and there are no problems at the moment and appreciated the councillors’ desire and zeal to do something good for the town. He also revealed some plans to improve and beautify Margao beginning with the renovation of the Ravindra Bhawan which was neglected for the last five years. “There is a fear of it collapsing if not attended to soon,” he said adding that it needs to be given a facelift to house the international symposium on fisheries scheduled on January 26.
He disclosed that he has already moved a note to the chief minister to dispose the vigilance case pending over Ravindra Bhawan because of which the PWD has not yet handed over the premises to the department concerned for maintenance.
FISH MARKET: Praising Police Inspector Navlesh Desai for effectively stopping the retail sale at the wholesale fish market, he said, the retail fish market would be given a new look and the tender will be issued on November 14.
“We are spending nearly Rs 1 crore to give the market a totally new look which will make it a posh market with all amenities of international standard,” he said disclosing that a former Indian diplomat to Denmark who now lives in Salcete opined that the Margao fish market was the best in the world.
