Confusion at panchayats as only sarpanchas, deputies get these
TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Residents of Fatorda putting up outside the Nehru stadium protested over the denial of any passes to them for the inaugural function of the Lusofonia games. They have threatened to stage a rasta roko.
Today they blocked an internal road as a mark of protest even as police led by DySP Mohan Naik descended on the spot to diffuse the situation. The residents claimed that they had to bear the brunt and even undergo sleepless nights on account of the renovation work at the stadium, but have been left to fend for themselves without any passes.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Goans returned home disappointed and dejected as the promise to make available free entry passes to witness the Lusofonia games turned out a farce.
To add insult to injury, entry passes were only despatched to the sarpanchas and deputy sarpanchas, leaving the panchas in the lurch, drawing strong reaction from Rachol sarpanch Joseph Vaz, who demanded entry passes for all the panchayat members by Saturday.
Media announcement that free entry passes will be made available with the panchayat bodies and municipalities, besides the offices of taluka mamlatdar saw a rush of inquiries and personal visits by many a sports enthusiast since this morning. Sarpanchas were at the receiving end with the panchayats receiving no passes, while there was a mad rush witnessed at the Salcete mamlatdar’s office for passes.
Loutolim Sarpanch Maria Monteiro said her inquiries with Salcete BDO Mardolkar revealed that the panchayat authorities were unaware of any such free passes to be made available at the panchayats.
Colva Sarpanch Snowkon Gonsalves said that he had a terrible time to explain to the people that the panchayats have not received any passes, but insisted on the passes referring to the media announcements.
Only the Salcete Mamlatdar is believed to have received passes in the morning and evening, and which got over within minutes, sources said.
Sarpanchas were at the receiving end with the panchayats receiving no passes, while there was a mad rush witnessed at the Salcete mamlatdar’s office
