Margao: SCM Convener Savio Coutinho on Wednesday revealed that Rs 8 lakhs are claimed to have been spent by the 25 MMC councillors for cooking and serving food to the homeless people. “A note dated April 23, 2020, moved by the Chairperson of MMC Pooja Naik stated that the 25 outgoing councillors procured a dry ration for the purpose of cooking meals and distributed the same in their respective ward’s. An amount of Rs 32000/- was approved and spent for each ward,” Coutinho stated.
“We are set to wonder as to who could have been the Chef of this “cooked story”, which has cost the public exchequer Rs. 8 lakhs”, Coutinho mocked.
Coutinho further stated that while the government officially sanctioned funds for the supply of food to the stranded and homeless people, the authorities manning the shelter at the Indoor stadium complex at Navelim were seeking cooperation from NGOs and other social organizations to supply food to the stranded people there.
“No doubt some councillors were seen distributing groceries to their voters, however in doing so they were very clearly stating that the groceries have been supplied by the respective MLAs, so where did the money from the Municipal treasury go?”, questioned Coutinho.
“In the month of May, when SCM had learnt about this scandal getting cooked, SCM had filed an RTI application seeking information about the same. However on 6th June 2020 SCM was informed that the concerned file was not traceable. “Interestingly, this file not only resurfaced, but the 8 lakhs also got cleared on 9th October 2020”, Coutinho informed.
SCM has now applied afresh, for details about this scheme, and necessary course of action shall be decided thereafter Coutinho said.
