Team Herald

PERNEM: Arambol locals have expressed annoyance over appointing a talathi in the panchayat who stays in Dongrim, Tiswadi, which is almost 50 km. The move is harming the talathi as well as the locals who have complained of unnecessary delay in their routine work.

“The punishment of travelling 50 kilometres is for talathi as well the locals. The previous talathi, Gadekar, had charge of two panchayats but he would make himself available whenever needed by locals. Currently, the locals are facing inconvenience,” said a local, Pritesh Pednekar.

Another Arambol villager Shivanand Harmalkar stated that there has been torpor regarding appointing a panchayat secretary as well, said, “The current secretary resides in Panjim and is unwell and so, the charge is temporarily given to Dhargal’s panchayat secretary. However, he met with an accident and is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. Although the Panjim-based person has been given the full-time charge of the post, it will be inconvenient for him as well as for the locals.”

The secretary has cited increased applications for RTI as a reason for the delay in other works. Since the tourism season is approaching, local businessmen have been in a rush to renew their trade licenses.