SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Approving a deficit budget at its gram sabha on Sunday, the Chandor Cavorim gram sabha also decided to levy a fine on those who have failed to pay their house tax for three consecutive years besides unanimously rejecting the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP).
During the budget discussion it was observed that quite a number of people have not paid their house tax and hence it was resolved to impose a 30 per cent fine on all those who have failed in paying the house tax for three consecutive years.
The gram sabha approved Rs 1.15 lakh deficit budget as the total expenditure was projected at Rs 7.94 lakh while the total income expected was only Rs 6.79 lakh. Incidentally, the panchayat did not receive any amount from the government towards garbage management fund.
The panchayat was slammed for not writing to the department as to why it was given only Rs 1.5 lakh towards garbage management even though it was supposed to receive Rs 3 lakh. The panchayat was also asked to write to the department giving a detailed proposal for garbage management.
The tendency of the panchayat not to put anything in writing was criticised by the villagers who pointed out that when the local body does not accept any verbal complaints why does it rely only on verbal communication in official matters.
The VP also drew flak for not informing the chairman of the Garbage Management Committee that it had accepted his resignation even though the decision was taken nearly a year ago.
The panchayat was castigated for wasting public funds as stock purchased to be distributed to the poor and needy during the pandemic was lying in the panchayat premises without being distributed in two wards. A ward member said when she asked for aid to 30 families she was given aid only for 15 families. The member said she could not distribute as it would lead to animosity.
The gram sabha asked the panchayat to object to the CZMP as the draft sent at present did not include any of the suggestions or recommendations made by the panchayat earlier. It demanded that the public hearing be postponed till an expert visits the village to explain the maps to the locals.
The panchayat informed that the authorities have prepared a plan for rebuilding the tinto which will have two floors with four shops on the top floor. The villagers demanded that the plan be kept open for public scrutiny and be discussed in detail only after the land owner namely the Fabrica gives the NOC.
It was decided to call on Minister for Water resources to implement certain proposals made in the Economic Revival Plan for the village with specific attention to the desilting and cleaning of the major stream “Oll” in the village.
