From deficit budget to putting on hold the VIth Pay panel's recommendations, Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) is in the eye of storm for its plunge into the financial pit. CCP corporator Adv Avinash Bhosle in a chat with ARTI DAS lambasts the corporation for giving birth to innumerable scams while suggesting a few solutions to come out of the mess.
What according to you is the reason for this mess in CCP?
The CCP has inherited the mess. The fiscal indiscipline is there right from the time when the Corporation came into existence in 2006. The current commissioner, Sanjit Rodrigues who was also the commissioner tried to put in place the administrative deformities. But, within six months he was transferred. I believe if he had to sustain for a year or two then we wouldn’t have suffered this mess. He was instrumental in making Panjim bin free and tackle to our garbage issues. He was in a position to bring in total solution to it.
Who is to be blamed for it?
The elected 30 corporators are not directly elected based on political parties. But, they look into it as a party politics. There is groupism and have failed to draw a line. There’s no constructive criticism happening there. Even opposition is equally responsible for it. There’s no stringent action taken when any scam is brought to light. Thus, it gives rise to more scams.
What are the major scams?
The new market complex is the fountain of corruption. There are lot of irregularities in allotment of sopos for the vendors. They are made into shops. There should be special enquiry on this market itself. Till today CCP cannot have agreement with vendors as technically it is with GSIDC.
What you to say about the whole issue of Sixth pay commission?
This decision was taken by the corporators in December 2008 but they failed to give any brief or notes on it. No one knew about its financial implications. That time it was only me who raised this question. They were not even aware that they had to pay the arrears from the year 2006.
What could be the solution?
The major source of income for CCP is from collection of house tax, commercial tax, construction licenses and all. They should work on getting this amount, as there is around arrears of Rs 5 crore or so on house tax alone. Also they are not utilising government grants. Like under tourism ministry Rs 1.5 crore was given for the upgradation of the municipal garden and Rs 5 crore for the Mala lake. But still no work is done on that.
Are you hopeful that new Commissioner would do the needful? And do you also feel the need for judicial enquiry?
The administrative enquiry is a welcome step and I hope that he could work on that direction. To have a judicial enquiry then it should not linger for long and punish the guilty as and when things come to light.
