Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: In a major boost to the development efforts in Mormugao, several long-pending files pertaining to projects worth Rs 3.75 crores in the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC ) jurisdiction were finally cleared by the Directorate of Municipal Administration under the Urban Development Ministry.
The clearance comes as a relief to MMC Chairperson Girish Borker and other councillors, allowing various development works across MMC wards to commence.
Speaking to the media, Chairperson Girish Borker expressed his relief at the clearance, acknowledging the rising tensions within the council over the delay.
“The situation had become very heated with the files pending for so long. Every councillor was under pressure from their ward residents, asking why no development was happening,” Borker said.
Borker further explained that while the files were ready, they were delayed due to other political commitments.
“The files were basically awaiting signatures. The BJP had assigned many MLAs to the Maharashtra elections, which caused the delay. The situation escalated when several councillors who attended the last council meeting threatened to boycott if the files were not cleared. I cannot blame them because they are accountable to their ward residents, and in the end, their frustration turned towards us,” he explained.
Joining the councillors in their demand, Borker emphasized that he too was prepared to boycott meetings if the files were not approved. “Though I am the Chairperson, I am also a councillor. I stood with them and agreed to boycott MMC meetings if the files remained pending,” he added.
Borker credited the swift intervention of Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar and Minister Mauvin Godinho for resolving the issue.
“We had discussions with our MLA Krishna Salkar and Minister Mauvin Godinho, and they immediately took up the matter with Urban Development Minister Vishwajeet Rane. Both Salkar and Godinho went out of their way to meet Rane and push for the clearance. Thanks to their efforts, the files have now been sanctioned, and the development works will soon begin across all the wards,” Borker stated.
