Vijai criticises MMC councillors

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

MARGAO: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai has said that the Margao Municipal Council’s councillors cannot escape the charge of corruption since their inaction amounts to abetment of corruption.

Referring to the hue and cry raised by MMC councillors over duplication of works, Sardessai said the mysterious and sudden silence thereafter smacked of an alleged settlement. Rubbishing the assertion of the councillors of working efficiently at the grassroots level, Vijai asked why MMC was the only council not to conduct a survey at grassroots level to ascertain each wards requirement for solid waste management. 

Sardessai also questioned why community organizers under the Urban Poverty Alleviation Scheme connected to solid waste management were not being appointed by MMC in spite of repeated reminders from DMA. The Fatorda MLA lamented that such organizers appointed by other councils have been trained out of the state at two camps and are fully equipped to start the programme unlike in Margao where the first step is yet to be taken.

Sardessai also cited the refusal of MMC to charge hotels/commercial establishments for garbage and failure of MMC to appoint professionals to make DPRs for civic projects as vivid examples where the councillors are directly or indirectly abetting scams. 

Sardessai said he didn’t need certificates from absentee councillors and that he was raising the issue of the poor people of Fatorda who have had to shell out bribes to get residence certificates and NOCs for electricity and water under the Health Act from MMC.