BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: CCP Corporator, Surendra Furtado yesterday demanded a judicial inquiry headed by an acting or retired High Court judge, to go into the entire functioning of the civic body, and not just the ‘ghost workers’ scandal.
Furtado also rejected the government’s move for an inquiry into the ‘ghost workers’ scam by CCP Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues, saying such an inquiry will not be able to call for files and examine witnesses.
“It needs to be headed by a retired/acting High Court judge,” Furtado said, adding that he has written to Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, listing the demand and raising concern over the CCP’s spend on ‘daily wage workers’ to the tune of Rs 5-crore.
Probe by Sanjit unacceptable
“Yesterday Urban Development Minister, Joaquim
Alemao mentioned that Commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues would investigate into it. He can’t do miracles and thus a judicial commission should be appointed. Only a sitting High Court judge can call for files, documents and ask the public to give their testimonies,” Furtado told GT.
He also criticised Alemao for staying a mute spectator while CCP was being looted.
“For the past four years, I’ve been shouting hoarse on the scams happening in CCP,” Furtado said, adding that if the government is serious, it should appoint the judicial inquiry.
He demanded that the Mayor and the ruling corporators should resign.
Furtado also accused the ruling body of fudging figures in the budget presented on Wednesday saying that the real deficit figure is not Rs 12.78-crore as projected, but should be at least Rs 18-crore.
“Every month Rs 30 lakh was withdrawn from CCP’s account for garbage. Where’s the money from hoteliers for waste disposal going? Also the house tax includes money collected from households for waste collection,” he said, of the many irregularities happening in CCP.
“It is total mismanagement. They (corporators) have not left any area from where they aren’t looting. For the past four years they have given contracts to relatives for collection of taxes,” he said.
Ghost workers
Furtado claimed that as many as 350 non-existent workers were being paid ‘daily wages’ by the CCP in what has now come to be called the ‘ghost workers’ scam.
“There are some 10 unknown workers in Taleigao area. No one knows where they are. But, they are being paid salaries,” he said.
Revoking VI Pay
Furtado also opined that revoking the decision to pay VI Pay Commission scales to the staff was unfair.
“The staff were already paid VI Pay Commission scales for the past six months. They must have taken loans and now it would be hard for them to repay. Why should the staff suffer because of corporators?” questioned Furtado.
Solutions
Furtado said, taxing several shops and flats people have bought as ‘investments’ at the normal rates instead of allowing concessional rates could be one avenue to mop up resources for the cash-starved Corporation.
“CCP can raise crores of rupees in taxes on the EDC complex at Patto alone. Also, the fees for hoardings should be increased and the entire Panjim should be made a pay parking area,” he said.
He said exhibitions in the city should be banned.
“The inspectors do not charge properly and pocket the money. Also, these exhibitions create unnecessary garbage.”
