MARGAO: Friday’s ordinary meeting of the Margao Municipal Council has come under the scanner of Congress leaders after they found that the contentious issue of Rs 18 lakh feast fair revenue embezzlement has not found a mention on the meeting agenda.
The Margao Congress Block also strongly opposed the idea of setting up of a cafeteria in the Municipal garden, saying the cafeteria would create a mess in the garden.
While addressing the media on the recovery drive of the Margao Municipal Council, Congress leaders questioned the reasons why the Council agenda for January 3 meet, has not listed the matter of recovery of Rs 18 lakh misappropriated by its staff.
Congress leader Savio Coutinho charged that the Margao Municipal Council has been cheated of nearly Rs 1 crore by various agencies/ contractors, besides the Municipal staff, adding, “if the Council is seriously interested in recovery of its revenue, than this amount should be targeted on top priority.”
Coutinho said the Opposition councillors should seek details of the steps taken by the Council to recover these funds and the special reasons why the accused staffer has not been terminated.
“You may please mark my prediction in bold letters, that the Municipal staff Yogesh Shetkar will soon be asked by his political godfathers to claim that he didn’t take away any money and whatever amount was paid by stall owners has been refunded. Further, the police which claimed on one hand that Yogesh Shetkar was nabbed after a trap was laid by them at the Margao Railway Station, while his mother clearly states that she (mother) and her daughter brought Yogesh to the police station; will give him a clean chit. And the final curtains of this drama will come down with the reinstatement of Yogesh, who will also be paid his salary for all these months he was off duty,” he said.
Commenting on the mounting arrears, Coutinho said the main reason for the mounting arrears is primarily because of arbitrary and unreasonable garbage tax levied on loyal taxpayers including the premises that are closed and not generating any waste.