08 Apr 2010  |   12:00am IST

Sans administrator, Aquem VP affairs on hold

MARGAO, APRIL 7 Strange it may seem, but true. The Sarpanch and deputy sarpanch of Aquem-Baixo Panchayat were voted out of office on March 29 in a no trust motion. But, the affairs of Panchayat body are neither managed by the elected

MARGAO, APRIL 7
Strange it may seem, but true. The Sarpanch and deputy sarpanch of Aquem-Baixo Panchayat were voted out of office on March 29 in a no trust motion.
But, the affairs of Panchayat body are neither managed by the elected representatives nor by a government-appointed administrator since the last 10 days – thus crippling the Panchayat administration.
Outgoing Sarpanch Agnelo Dias informed that the Directorate of Panchayat has not yet appointed an Administrator as a stop gap arrangement after he and his deputy were voted out of office.
When Herald contacted the Salcete Block Development Office on Wednesday, an official admitted that no administrator was appointed for Aquem-Baixo panchayat for want of orders from the Directorate of Panchayats.
Incidentally, a BDO official informed that an order appointing an administration has come only this evening. As per the order, Engineer Bhiva Velip has been appointed as the administrator for Aquem-Baixo panchayat till further orders.
It is also not known when elections to fill up the vacant posts of Sarpanch and deputy Sarpanch will be held by the Directorate of Panchayats.
Meanwhile, the Director of Panchayats has appointed Ashish Patnekar as the Administrator of the Orlim village Panchayat, following the ouster of the Sarpanch Godfrey Rodrigues and his deputy in a no confidence motion on March 30.