A ray of hope that there will now be some transparency and accountability at the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP).Thanks to last year’s direction by our High Court, after these ensuing elections the CCP would now have to constitute the Ward Committees as mandated by Section 41 of the CCP Act.
As these vital Ward committees were not constituted for the last 18 years since the enactment of the Act in 2002, I had to move the High Court last year after which the CCP by an order dated 19th June constituted the seven ward committees but contrary to law with relatives and friends of the Corporators as members including Mayor Uday Madkaikar’s own brother finding a place on one of the committees. As these Ward committees were not set up in accordance with law, I had to again knock the doors of the High Court after which the CCP by an order 28th August 2020 cancelled those illegal appointments. The High Court by an order dated 31st August directed the CCP to constitute the Ward Committees in accordance with law. So accordingly, the CCP Ward Committee Rules have been framed and notified on 27th November last year. These rules lay down the norms of persons who qualify to be on these committees which includes architects, engineers, Town planners or persons working in the fields of Environment protection, Conservation and Maintenance of Heritage, Urban Development and other specified fields. The City of Panaji will have seven ward committees each comprising of contiguous wards and besides three expert nominated members, would also have on board the Corporators representing the wards within the territorial limit of that Ward committee along with an official of the CCP. These Ward Committees will rightly influence the city’s much needed planning in a manner which best addresses its needs while participating in determining core CCP processes such as Integrated Development Planning, CCP budgeting and its performance management besides making sure funds are used for the purposes they are intended for while ensuring that the people of Panaji get the best services on all fronts. It is also incumbent on the citizens to be vigilant and ensure quality control of all work being executed. Total Transparency and Zero Tolerance to Corruption has to be the mantra if we need to firmly halt the further decay of Goa’s capital city. The CCP Act is almost two decades old and must be due to be brought in tune with the times. Interestingly in the entire 204 pages of the Act there is no mention of the word ‘Corporator’ and everywhere it refers to the elected representatives as ‘Councillor’. If genuine progress is to be made to stop the stagnation and decay of our once beautiful Panjim, it is vital that the CCP has a structure and leadership reflecting the dynamic selfless drive needed with integrity, transparency and the rule of law with full accountability for every paisa spent from the public purse. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
