julio d’silva
julio@herald-goa.com
The money received by Margao Municipal Council is shrouded in mystery as quite a substantial amount has been circulating in the market without being deposited in the bank accounts which has resulted in some staff making money without having to face any accountability.
The money paid by Margao residents as house tax or trade tax or for any other matter is received by the Council but not sent to the bank the same day or even the next day. Apparently, a portion of the money received was siphoned off to be loaned to some staff members in dire need of money.
The lender had even worked out a proper system of recovery from borrowers by engaging some toughies as bouncers who would wait at the municipal building to collect the money on pay day. It is said, fearing their wrath some borrowers even used pipes to climb down from the first floor of the municipal building.
However, much of this has come to an end since the municipal council has now directed the representative of the bank to come and collect the money to be deposited instead of the municipal employee taking the money to the bank.
“The earlier chief officers did not have a system wherein the amount of money received was checked on a daily basis and deposited in the bank,” admitted Chairperson Babita Prabhudessai, while emphasising that the money received was now being checked on a day-to-day basis.
Besides, anybody and everybody, who needed money would just go and collect it from the cashier without even submitting a bill or receipt for the same.
“The amount collected used to be reconciled months later and there was absolutely no accountability,” she said on why she was compelled to change the system.
She has now made it mandatory for the cashier to hand over cash only if there is a note from her or the Chief Officer sanctioning the amount.
Presently, as the financial year is coming to an end, people are paying their taxes in large number and on an average the council receives around Rs 7 lakh every day, which is directly going to the bank and is properly accounted for.
The council has also decided to have an internal audit.
Once all the leakages are plugged and the missing funds are traced, the council will be able to work in a proper manner as there will be total accountability, she added.
