Team Herald
PONDA: The Bethora villagers on Sunday appealed to the local MLAs/ministers to attend the gram sabhas of the villages falling under their respective constituencies, at least once or twice a year, to understand the problems of the villages and speed up their developments.
The appeal was made during the gram sabha of Bethora Nirankal Konshem Codar Panchayat chaired by Sarpanch Sushanth Gaonkar.
At the meeting, the villagers as well as the sarpanch claimed that the government officials take up the works recommended by a panchayat, only if an MLA or minister lends his support for that recommendation.
The gram sabha members complained that since the MLAs/ministers do not attend the gram sabhas, they do not understand the needs of and the problems faced by the villagers. Consequently, the MLAs/ministers do not take up the proposed works with the respective departments; and as such, the works get delayed. However, the villagers said, the sarpanch and panchas are held responsible for the delay and taken to task at the gram sabhas.
The gram sabha observed that whenever a development proposal file is forwarded to the government, the officials demand recommendation letter from MLAs. However, the villagers said, the legislator does not issue his recommendation letter immediately as he does not understand the urgency and importance of the proposal. Due to the delay in issuing his recommendation, the project proposal of a panchayat is kept pending for a long time.
At the meeting, the sarpanch informed that the Panchayat would start door-to-door garbage collection and that the collected dry garbage would be sent to Pollution Control Board. The sarpanch suggested that as the 14th Finance Commission allotted funds for the panchayats, the State government also should provide special fund to panchayats to undertake development works.
Claiming that wild bison often cross the road at Nirankal Kodar and destroy their crops, the locals demanded that the forest officials take measures to prevent destruction of their crops.
To a question on the cattle menace, the sarpanch said he had sent a proposal to BDO for constructing a common shelter for stray animals and cattle from five panchayats in Ponda taluka so that cattle menace could be reduced.
Meanwhile, to meet the rising expenses of the panchayat, the gram sabha has approved the hike in trade, building and office tax.
Later, speaking after the meeting, the Sarpanch Gaonkar said that the gram sabha on Sunday passed Grampanchayat Village Development Plans, containing works relating to irrigation, agriculture, social and cultural programmes.
