South members want devolution of more powers, functions to ZPs
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MARCH 30
The first meeting of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat witnessed members cutting across party lines unanimously demanding devolution of more powers and functions to the district Panchayat bodies.
Three-time ZP member and NCP leader, Nelly Rodrigues set the ball rolling by asking the ZP members elected on the Congress panel to pressurize their MLAs to devolve powers to the ZP bodies under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment. “The Congress MLAs from South Goa are boasting of wining most of the seats and they should give us the powers. It is a shame that the MLAs are only fooling us”, she thundered.
Two-time ZP member, Domnic Gaonkar, who had defeated the Congress candidates to get reelected from Raia constituency, said the Congress-backed ZP members should impress upon their MLAs to devolve the powers. Our patience is running out. We are giving you just 5-6 months to get the powers or we will take some drastic action”, Gaonkar told Chairperson Maria Rebello.
A first time member suggested that the ZP members go on a hunger strike to press for the powers, but others said that the weapon did not evoke much support in the past because of allegiance of ZP members to the MLAs and ministers.
ZP vice-Chairperson Kushali Velip suggested that the Zilla Panchayat invite the MLAs from South Goa to support the cause, which was found acceptable to the members. A suggestion was also made to invite the Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar to the ZP body.
ZP member Pradeep Desai said he has received a congratulatory message from Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik on his election, but the member requested the MP to take up in Delhi as well as with the State government on the devolution of powers and functions to the ZP bodies.
Nelly said the government should immediately implement the MoU signed with the then Union Panchayat Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar if it has any intention to devolve more powers. She said the Congress has no respect for late Rajiv Gandhi and the Constitution and is responsible for denying powers for the district panchayat bodies.
ZP Chairperson Maria Rebello passed a resolution congratulating the Rajya Sabha members for passing the 33 per cent Reservation Bill for women. Nelly passed a resolution to congratulate Union Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh for the decision to save the houses of traditional fishermen in Goa.
Chinchinim ZP member Sabrina Dias tabled a resolution demanding beautification of the Mobor-Cavelossim beach under the central grants and to resolve the burning issue of traffic and parking in the Commercial Capital.
