Seeks to know status on e-governance; asks civic chief Arthur D’Silva to tap funds from JNNURM
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Making his presence felt in the Margao Municipal building on Wednesday, Chief Secretary B Vijayan took stock of the functioning of the civic body, posing a barrage of questions to the civic chief ranging from garbage collection to revenue recoveries and pre-monsoon works.
Though the Chief Secretary tried to downplay his visit by saying he just thought of visiting the over 100-year-old building during his visit to the District Collector, he sought even minute details including the recovery earned by the civic body, outstanding arrears and grants received from the government. He was taken aback when Chief Officer Deepali Naik informed that house tax arrears were pegged at Rs 6.8 crore, even as she insisted that the civic body had started the recoveries.
Vijayan sought to know the initiative taken by the civic body on e-governance, and told the civic chief Arthur D’Silva to tap funds from the JNNURM scheme. “The Chief Officer will guide you to prepare the projects. There are lots of funds available under JNNURM. You can get lots of funds provided you ask,” he said.
The Chief Secretary sought to know from the Chairperson the status of the pre-monsoon works and the areas flooded by rains. “Is the flooding due to rains under control?” he asked the municipal chief, who along with a group of councilors expressed happiness over the pre-monsoon works carried out by the civic body.
The MMC chief drew attention of the Chief Secretary to the frequent transfers of Chief Officers, hampering administrative work. “We cannot concentrate on the revenue recoveries. All work is hampered because of the frequent transfers of Chief Officers,” he said.
Incidentally, when the Chairperson sought to put across the message that the civic body as well as the District Collectorate was fortunate to have efficient officers in Deepali Naik and Collector N D Agrawal, Vijayan told Arthur not to be sympathetic to the officers, saying they are expected to work 24 hours.
Before leaving the Municipal building, the Chief Secretary visited various Municipal sections and told Arthur to go in for garbage collection at source to solve the waste problem.
After inspecting the Sonsodo waste treatment plant, Vijayan told media persons it was a good experiment. “It’s the first plant of its type in Goa. Let us wait and see how it runs. It’s too early to say anything at the moment,” he said before heading back to Panjim.
