PONDA: Marcaim Village Panchayat on Saturday rejected allegations made by Marcaim Nagrik Kruti Samithi that the panchayat office was receiving gifts from companies based at Marcaim Industrial Estate.
Sarpanch Laxmi Tari said, “All allegations are baseless and irresponsible.”
“Various goods or the equipment provided to the panchayat by various companies are under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund and it is legally received by the panchayat. There is no point in allegations,” she said showing letters to Herald official correspondence, with regards to goods received under the CSR.
She was responding to the allegations recently made by Marcaim Nagrik Kruti Samithi President Premanand Gaude, who has criticised the panchayat alleging that instead of taking action against Goa Ispat Company for illegal dump of slag and illegal residential rooms, the panchayat has received gifts of cupboard and racks from the said company.
With reference to the allegations, Laxmi said, “The panchayat cannot take action against any company as the body has no powers. The government and IDC should look into the complaints of the villagers.
She said, “The rack and cupboard received from Goa Ispat are not for personal use of panchas but for the village panchayat office and the people criticising must realise it.”
