MARGAO: The Director of Panchayat is yet to respond to letters of both the BDOs of Salcete over the failure of the panchayats in their jurisdiction to hold gram sabhas and approve the budgets. 

Four Salcete panchayats – Cana-Benaulim, Chinchinim, Raia and Colva are yet to approve their budgets. However, it is learnt that Colva has proposed to hold its gram sabha on April 30.

BDO Prajakta Goltekar, who is in charge of the three panchayats of Cana-Benaulim, Chinchinim and Raia, informed that she had already written to the Director of Panchayats last month as the above panchayats failed to convene the gram sabhas and approve their budgets.

However, till date the Director of panchayats has not responded to the letter and hence the BDO cannot take any action. According to the law, if the Sarpanch fails to convene the gram sabha, the BDO is supposed to convene the same within a month.

BDO Milindra Velip also informed that the Director of panchayats has not responded to his letter, has now proposed to hold Colva gram sabha on April 30.

The panchayats would find it difficult to function if the budget is not approved as they will not be able to pay the staff salary and for that matter will be unable to incur any expenditure till the budget is approved.