MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is geared up to undertake development works amounting to `2 crore across the city shortly. The estimates are being prepared and works of ` 10 lakh in each of the 20 wards of the city will be tendered soon, sources informed.

Significantly, the works are being tendered afresh after the previous tenders which were invited during the fag end of the earlier council's tenure were allowed to lapse for want of adequate funds. Tenders amounting to ` 2 crore were invited in August. However, the bids were never opened, leading to fresh tenders being invited by the new council now.

Questions are now being raised over the fate of three works proposed to be carried out under the special plan in the earlier tender. The works include expansion of the dog shelter, repair work of the municipality garage at old market and beautification of St Sebastian Church, Aquem.

Speaking to TOI, former chairperson of MMC Savio Coutinho said the delay in sanctioning development grants by the government forced the MMC to allow the tenders to lapse.

"The dog shelter of the MMC presently has only 20 cages, which is quite inadequate. Had the development grants been released in time, the expansion of the dog shelter would have been completed by now.

"Besides, the council had already received 23 lakh from the government for beautification of the St Sebastian Church. The municipal garage is on the verge of collapsing and is in need of urgent repairs. It is an embarrassing situation for the council as it is unable to repair its own garage," Coutinho said.