The Times of India 12.04.2013
Margao Municipal Council to focus on pre-monsoon works in Margao
MARGAO: Pre-monsoon works and recovery of taxes are the two tasks that top the agenda of the chief officer of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), DeepaliNaik.
Speaking to TOI, Naik said that as the monsoons are approaching, she has concentrated on mobilizing the resources to get all pre-monsoon works completed at the earliest. Towards that end, while tenders amounting to 9 lakhs have already been issued by the MMC for the task of desilting the drains, the MMC has also written to the water resources department (WRD) to deploy earth-moving machines for desilting the big nallahs in the city.
"We had written to the WRD almost two months ago, and we are now pursuing the matter with them," Naik said. The desilting of nullahs is carried out by the MMC before monsoons every year with a view to prevent flooding in low lying areas during heavy rains. Besides, tenders have also been issued for covering the dump at Sonsoddo with tarpaulin and for purchasing bigger size dustbins, it was informed.
As regards the recovery of taxes-arrears of house taxes alone run into over 5 crore-Naik said that she would soon take effective measures after taking the concerned staff into confidence. "I am working on the plans and once the plan of action is finalized I will spell it out," Naik said. Insufficient staff strength is also a factor that is hampering the revenue recovery process, Naik indicated, and hinted at shuffling of the staff to bolster the recovery section.
Meanwhile, the biometric attendance recording system, which had witnessed stiff resistance from the MMC employees association, will be implemented from April 16, Naik said.
"My predecessor, Sandhya Kamat, has already held a meeting with the employees association and they have agreed to cooperate. The implementation of the (biometric attendance system) will be implemented, as earlier decided, from April 16," Naik said.
Speaking to TOI, Naik said that as the monsoons are approaching, she has concentrated on mobilizing the resources to get all pre-monsoon works completed at the earliest. Towards that end, while tenders amounting to 9 lakhs have already been issued by the MMC for the task of desilting the drains, the MMC has also written to the water resources department (WRD) to deploy earth-moving machines for desilting the big nallahs in the city.
"We had written to the WRD almost two months ago, and we are now pursuing the matter with them," Naik said. The desilting of nullahs is carried out by the MMC before monsoons every year with a view to prevent flooding in low lying areas during heavy rains. Besides, tenders have also been issued for covering the dump at Sonsoddo with tarpaulin and for purchasing bigger size dustbins, it was informed.
As regards the recovery of taxes-arrears of house taxes alone run into over 5 crore-Naik said that she would soon take effective measures after taking the concerned staff into confidence. "I am working on the plans and once the plan of action is finalized I will spell it out," Naik said. Insufficient staff strength is also a factor that is hampering the revenue recovery process, Naik indicated, and hinted at shuffling of the staff to bolster the recovery section.
Meanwhile, the biometric attendance recording system, which had witnessed stiff resistance from the MMC employees association, will be implemented from April 16, Naik said.
"My predecessor, Sandhya Kamat, has already held a meeting with the employees association and they have agreed to cooperate. The implementation of the (biometric attendance system) will be implemented, as earlier decided, from April 16," Naik said.
