by SHYAM ZAMBAULIKER
MARGAO: Municipal councils play an important role in city administration as it is responsible for maintenance of roads, removal of garbage, sanitary and healthcare facilities, and registration of births and deaths in the area, maintenance of footpaths, foot bridges, heritage buildings and many more.

There are also some discretionary functions that are carried out by the municipal councils which include conducting surveys, public entertainment, organising public receptions, construction and maintenance of museums, libraries, public parks and gardens etc.
The chairperson of Margao Municipal Council, Mr Savio Coutinho has opined that the municipal councils have to work hand-in-hand with the state government for effective implementation of various plans and programmes meant for the welfare of the common people besides utilising the funds collected by them for the welfare of the people. “No city can progress on its own. It has to be navigated with a clear roadmap. I believe that it has to be a two-way street. Provide better services, seek support,” he said. He said that the city should have a vision that represents the dream of the citizens.
“Constant blaming cripples the city administration. It cannot function if it is criticised or challenged at every step. Citizens should be coaxed to commit for city development. There are also many non-government organisations and agencies that work with the state government as well as with the municipal councils to ensure better services to the people,” Mr Coutinho added.
Mr Coutinho said that since Margao is the commercial centre it is progressing fast with every passing day and hence new steps have been taken up to upgrade the municipal system in the city. He said that some modern mechanisms are being applied for efficient functioning.
He said that collection and disposal of garbage, cleaning of cesspits and septic tanks, construction and maintenance of roads other than main roads and highways including the provision and maintenance of the related drains, side-walks and street-signs, maintenance and control of public recreation grounds, parks and squares, cleaning of public spaces are some of the tasks being undertaken by the Margao municipality.
Mr Coutinho, who took over the reins of Margao Municipal Council in 2008, said that during the last 20 months developmental works worth Rs 7 crore were undertaken in the 20 wards of the council. He claimed that during his tenure, substantial civic progress has been undertaken. He said that each ward was given Rs 30 lakh for its development which was used for the development of footpaths, roads and drains. Also a much-needed centre for sterilisation of dogs was opened at Agali. He said that a website was opened giving all information on birth and death records, house tax, trade licence, besides it can be used to download the necessary forms. He claimed that the website has helped several citizens as they can check the status of their house tax, trade licence and collect other required information with the click of a mouse. He said that during his tenure, he started E Grathalaya a library facility from where people can get information on any book they need.
Mr Coutinho said that when he took over the reins of the council, garbage issue was top on his priority list and he put in all efforts to see that garbage menace is resolved. He said that at present Fomento is in the process of sorting out the garbage issue and that he hopes that it will be done soon. He said that there was a huge tax recovery was pending when he took over however he formed teams and tried to recover some amount which was due from traders. He also said that he recovered some amount of trade licence however he pointed out that lot of tax recovery is still pending.
Regarding sopo tax, he said that MMC was always in loss over collection of sopo. Lakhs were to be recovered from sopo collector however during his tenure there was no defaulter, he added.
He pointed out that in a month about Rs 2 lakh sopo tax is being collected from traders. Mr Coutinho regretted that parking problem was not resolved. “We tried pay parking to ease traffic congestion at old fish market and old bus stand, invited consultant to design the project but we had to back-out as we could not get the requisite funds.” He said that several open spaces were developed.
“Margao is growing at a fast pace and all efforts have been done to provide better traffic system and infrastructure. We need huge infrastructure for connectivity to maintain quality of life. We need huge amount of funds for that. Yes we received funds and whatever possible was done and still our efforts to provide infrastructural assets to this city are on. It’s not just the movement of vehicles. Several vehicles jostle for space on our streets, every single day new vehicles get licence which creates chaos and that schemes will be implemented to ease traffic congestion,” he said.
“Road widening has worked in Margao and it has evoked good response at Aquem and Navelim. There are many problems. We need to work hard to fix these problems. But now various works have been completed and still works were going on, even in the newly-added areas. Earlier these areas were not developed at all. Several roads have been developed and widened. Drains and sanitary lines have been laid,” he said.
According to the MMC chairperson, municipalities are dependent on the state government for aids and finances so their being autonomous was out of question. He felt that the council has to become financially independent and self-sufficient by generating its own resources. He said that several pending works like provision of parking places, traffic improvement and immediate garbage disposal programme are in his mind and he would implement them in due course of time.