MARGAO: With the State Assembly elections buzz round the corner, one of the most crowded municipalities of Goa, Margao Municipal Council wore a deserted look as maximum number of staff has been deployed for the polls duty.
The functioning of the civic body has been paralysed to some extent.
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At the visit to the municipality, Herald witnessed that there were very few employees on duty, and maximum chairs and tables were seen empty.
As informed by MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes, half of the staff has been deployed for the elections duty, including the workers and drivers.
It is rare to notice such a deserted look at the Margao municipality and that too on the working days. A large number of people making rush for their works related to the municipality is a routine affair, but there are few to attend to the public. A long queue at the birth and death certificate counter is a never ending scene at the municipality.
However, hardly few staff and public are noticed in the municipality in these few days.
Even the engineers are deployed for elections duty which has affected the municipality to some extent.
Reacting to the situation, former chairperson of MMC Savio Coutinho said that the municipal services are actually classified as essential services.
“When municipal staff is drawn for elections duty, the entire functioning is literally paralysed. No doubt those State government personnel are essential for elections related works, however we often notice that maximum personnel requisitioned for elections duty is from the essential services providing departments such as municipalities, Water Supply and Electricity Departments. This needs to be reviewed by the Election Commission,” he stated.
Speaking to Herald Chief Officer Agnelo informed that the maximum staff of municipality has been deployed for the elections duty upon the request of the District Collector.
“But we are managing with the minimum staff and we have also taken care that the work of the civic body is not hampered due to the shortage of staff. The movement of public in the municipality has also lessened for the last many days,” said the CO.
