New car for MMC chairperson
Shadowman just thought of moving through the corridors of the MMC building. The junk of the Portuguese era lying there was seen being hurriedly moved a bit, to paint the corridors and the front part of the building for the celebration of the Independence Day. While watching the preparatory works, Shadowman saw a morcha being staged in protest over the purchase of new plush car for the MMC chairperson Babita Prabhudesai. “You purchased the Toyota car worth Rs 17 lakh violating the norms and procedure,” shouted the Shadow Council members holding a banner displaying the pictures of the vehicles. Babita is the third woman chairperson in a row to have a new car, and all the three have been affiliated to different political parties. The MMC got new cars when Kamlini Painguinkar (BJP), Susheela Nayak (Congress and supporter of MLA Digambar Kamat) were the chairpersons, and now it was the turn of Babita. Susheela vacated the seat within three months from the day she ‘enjoyed’ the new car. “Will the history repeat? We do not know if Babita has to step down in three months,” Shadowman heard shadow council member mock.
Media Vs Babita
Shadowman has noted that Babita Prabhudesai is a chairperson with a difference. She taught the Salcete media persons how to conduct themselves when they visit her chamber. “You should display your identity cards while entering the office. Just opening the door and entering is incorrect. We should know from which newspaper you are from,” she told media on the Journalists Day. Shadowman saw the senior journos could not digest it, and were seen posing questions, when she was in the pressroom addressing the media, along with 10 other councillors associated with Goa Forward, to negate the claims of Damodar Naik, former Fatorda MLA against the MLA Vijai Sardesai. Earlier, upon entering the pressroom, dusty desk greeted her. She wanted to wipe it and looked for a peon, but then fellow councillors stopped her and the press conference began. Without letting go of the opportunity, angry media persons quizzed her: “Why rules were flouted while buying Rs 17 lakh car? Is there a provision in the MMC rules to buy such a costly car?” Shadowman saw the media persons venting their ire against the chairperson. Babita patiently responded to the media queries without losing her temper, but did not leave the pressroom without criticising her opponents.
‘Zopu de Marathi-Konkani issue’
Shadowman was at the Collectorate building. While coming down the stairs, Shadowman saw few Konkani protagonists were coming down the second floor. “Marathi- Konkani issue was buried 25 years ago, why MLA Sawal had to rake it up? And, why a resolution was taken? Today, people from Karnataka take the medical benefits of Goa government and tomorrow Maharashtrians will stake claim for the government jobs. This is going from bad to worse,” a Konkani writer dejectedly told his colleague. The other fellow responded sarcastically: “This is their UK.” A sweeper heard the conversation as it was heard by Shadowman. ‘Zopu dhi Marathi– Konkani issue,’ Shadowman heard. This is a best time for the government to capitalise on the move, and try to play divisive politics, ahead of the elections. Perhaps the government do not know that the Goa ka ajib lok can handle the language issue in a better way…. Why didn’t Saxtti’s MLAs oppose the resolution taken in the favour of Marathi, the Shadowman wondered.
‘Potholes’ in the PWD?
Shadowman was at the Fatorda PWD office last week. He stepped into the chambers of a couple of engineers only to know about the paucity of funds. Shadowman heard an engineer helplessly telling a sarpanch: “We do not have money even to fill the potholes of the roads. People come to us, and shout at us. What to do?” Shadowman learnt that a meeting of engineers was held after a youth died in a road accident that occurred due to pothole in Panaji, and there the engineers informed the higher ups about the bankruptcy. There were groups of people from Saxtti’s atleast four villages complaining to the PWD about the bad roads. The contractors have not been paid for their earlier works, and now there is no enthusiasm left in them to carry out the works further. “Let us plant saplings in the potholes and protest,” one of the groups shouted angrily after hearing the response. Shadowman wonders where the revenue collected in form of road tax is utilised.
Canteen at Collectorate building
Shadowman has gathered that the non-functional canteen at Collectorate will soon start functioning. And, the same old contractor would be running it after completing the procedures. The defaulter contractor is set to restart the canteen service at the Collectorate building after batting for it for more than a year. ‘Batting is an art,’ Shadowman heard a senior level officer saying it at the Collectorate building. For the next several years, the canteen will provide the service, a government official heard whispering.