TEAM HERALD
BICHOLIM: Admitting that the government is aware of problems faced by panchayats in the absence of full-time panchayat secretaries, Panchayats Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Tuesday said the government would advertise for 34 posts of panchayat secretaries within the next two or three weeks.
He was addressing a meeting at Bicholim Municipal Council hall to look into problems of all 19 panchayats from Bicholim taluka. Sanquelim MLA Dr Pramod Sawant, Mayem MLA Anant Shet and ZP members were present at the meeting.
The sarpanchas and panchas had highlighted the problems faced by their panchayats, including allotment of house numbers, lack of funds and water problems. Most sarpanchas also complained that they did not have any permanent secretaries in their panchayats. The sarpanch of Surla complained that their secretary had been changed for the fourth time since the last one year.
While addressing the issue, Parsekar said the government would advertise 34 posts of panchayat secretaries within the next 15-20 days.
He also advised the panchas to prevent construction close to the roads. “Panchayats should avoid supporting constructions which are very close to the roads as most villages are now moving towards semi-urban and urban areas. Roads are very important as development to a great extent depends on the connectivity and roads,” he added.
He suggested the panchayats not to waste money on internal gutters, which are, at times, built for the development of the panchas and the contractor, rather than for the village.
“Funds should be utilised for such projects which are required for the entire village. Every panchayat should have a panchayat house, hall, ground, crematorium and a garden,” he said.
He also highlighted the issue of illegal houses coming up in the panchayat areas and said the issue cannot be resolved in a day. MLAs Dr Sawant and Shet also spoke.
