Team Herald
MARGAO: The obstruction caused by the gate installed at the Cutbona jetty by the Fisheries Department, and the loss of revenue due to the government’s decision to withdraw octroi charges, were the two major issues discussed at Velim panchayat’s gram sabha on Monday.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The villagers complained that the gate at the jetty has blocked traditional access and obstructed movement of the locals on the other road that runs parallel to the jetty.
The gram sabha members demanded that the gate be removed immediately. The villagers also pointed out that the village panchayat should be benefiting from the jetty in terms of revenue generation, and urged the
panchayat to take this matter up.
The issue of octroi was also a hot topic as the villagers rued the panchayat’s revenue loss with the government withdrawing octroi duty on fuel. Recalling how the panchayat would earn very well from this tax, the villagers slammed the government’s move for making the panchayat financially weak.
The gram sabha asked the panchayat to write to the government to compensate the panchayat for this loss. Sarpanch Veena Cardozo said the panchayat would write to the government and added that the government should increase the grants given to the panchayat because of this loss in revenue.
Village-level committees were formed at the meeting.
