PANJIM: The Margao Municipal Council was duped of Rs 17 lakh by a lower division clerk, in the feast fair scam, highlighting a clear indicator of the Council’s negligence and government's ineptness towards dealing with corruption. The MMC hasn't been able to recover the pending amount of Rs 14 lakh, despite having filed an FIR five months ago. In this edition of Street Voices, Herald TV spoke to people on whether the financial irregularities that are happening in Margao Municipal Council, are happening with the blessings of the higher ups in the civic body.
Blessings of higher ups means either to give protection or for self benefit, the Margao Municipality maybe looted. In this scam 100% a political godfather is involved. I’m making a direct charge. In the Rs 14 lakh scam, it happened in May but till November but accused is not traceable nor is the MMC proceeding further either to terminate him or urging the police to file a chargesheet. They have complained to the Margao Police just as a formality and thereafter they are doing nothing. When a government staffer is suspended, he has to report to the place of work. If he does not report, he has to be terminated.
Savio Coutinho, Social Activist
They have complained to the Margao Police just as a formality and thereafter they are doing nothing. When a government staffer is suspended, he has to report to the place of work. If he does not report, he has to be terminated.Savio Coutinho, Social Activist
From what we read in the media, it appears that there has to be some godfather behind all this. There are so many scams in the Margao Municipality –first cash was robbed, sopo collection money has not been given, and people start wondering why it is happening. Why is it happening only in Margao Municipality? Again and again why are financial frauds happening and amounts are not being paid up? This leads us to conclude that there is a hand of some higher up, maybe of a politician. Because without their support this cannot happen. We have not heard of such frauds in other municipalities. The MMC has to take urgent steps to recover the money. It is the tax payers money which is being looted. I’m also aware that the MMC is in a financial crisis, so how is the municipality going to go ahead (with development works?)
Orlando Pacheco, Resident, Margao
The MMC has to take urgent steps to recover the money. It is the tax payers money which is being looted. I’m also aware that the MMC is in a financial crisis, so how is the municipality going to go ahead (with development works?)Orlando Pacheco, Resident, Margao
Until such time as such big fish are involved, such type of scams do not happen. The lower division and upper division clerks never indulge in such activities without the blessings of the higher ups. Because the higher officials instruct them that per month or per week they have to give them a particular amount. There is fixed percentage of how much money has to come in. So the clerks embezzle the money, keep some of it for themselves and give the rest to the higher officers. This is the reason for the tremendous increase in corruption in the Margao Municipality, such that it is totally gone out of control. So the municipality staff has become rich and the municipality has become poor day by day.
Mahesh Nayak, Social Activist
m a particular amount. There is fixed percentage of how much money has to come in. So the clerks embezzle the money, keep some of it for themselves and give the rest to the higher officers. This is the reason for the tremendous increase in corruption inMahesh Nayak, Social Activist