PORVORIM: The panchayats of Penha de Franca, Socorro and Salvador do Mundo have not yet received their octroi grants from the government, due to which their administrative and developmental activities have come to a grinding halt.
In December 2014, Director of Panchayats Gurudas Pilarnekar directed the Bardez Block Development Officer to disburse octroi grants of Rs 45 lakh, 15.89 lakh and Rs 14.35 lakh to the panchayats of Penha de France, Salavdor do Mundo and Succor respectively. Eleven months have passed and reminders have been sent repeatedly, but the panchayats have still not received the grants.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte stated that the panchayats are collecting garbage from door to door and have to pay the contractor every month for garbage collection. He added that the Socorro panchayat has not even received its matching grants of Rs 4.25 lakh for 2014-15.
He further stated that the contactors are after the panchayats for their dues, and in the absence of funds, it is difficult for the panchayats to carry out day-to-day activities, leave aside developmental works.
Khaunte said that he is striving to maintain a clean and green Porvroim, but his efforts are going down the drain due lack of government support for the panchayats. He added, “On one hand, the Central government has launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and is urging the people to maintain cleanliness in their localities. On the other hand, the State government is not supporting the panchayats who strive to keep their village clean and undertake developmental activities. The government should release the octroi and matching grants to the panchayats immediately.”
