Canacona: The absence of a full-time chief officer at Canacona municipality for over two years has led to a growing backlog of cases, frustrating residents. At present, the chief officer visits the office only twice a week, with hearings scheduled in the afternoon on those days, limiting access for citizens.Former councillor Dhiraj Naikgaunkar said, “The officer is often unavailable even on designated days due to court matters or official meetings. As a result, hearings are regularly postponed and fresh dates are given after a month or so, causing delays and inconvenience,” he said, adding that matters requiring urgent attention are also affected.With the municipal council dissolved, the chief officer is the only official handling public grievances.Though an administrator has been appointed, locals said the arrangement is limited to two days a week and “is a mockery of Canconkars”, as it does little to address pending issues.Residents also alleged that, in the officer’s absence, junior staff are often not at their desks and attend work at their convenience, further slowing routine work. “The situation is really frustrating when we take leave from work and visit the office, only to be told the chief officer is not available and to come back next week. Even simple queries are not answered,” said a resident.Citizens have urged the authorities, including the directorate of municipal administration, to take immediate steps to ensure smooth functioning of the municipality and prevent further inconvenience to the public.
