Bedlam at Penha-de-Franca meet

PORVORIM, JULY 25
The Penha-de-Franca Gram Sabha on Sunday witnessed noisy scenes over the issue of indoor stadium in the panchayat area.
Discussing on the issue, R N Naik said the panchayat had sent the proposal to the Collector of North Goa in 1995 pertaining to acquisition of 3,000 sq mtrs of land for construction of indoor stadium.
“Since the matter has been pending for long time, the panchayat should pursue the matter and acquire the land,” suggested Naik.
Panchayat Secretary M S Mardolkar informed Naik that the Serula Communidade has already converted the land into 13 plots and sold them.
“Provisional NOC was issued for it by the panchayat in 2005. The buyers of these plots have applied to the panchayat for grant of construction licence,” informed the panchayat secretary. With the reply of the panchayat secretary, there was a heated discussion on the matter.
Naik sought to know how panchayat can issue ‘No Objection Certificate’ to the Serula Communidade when they had applied to the Collectorate of North Goa for acquisition of land for the construction of indoor stadium. “Further, no approval was obtained by the panchayat from the gram sabha prior to issuing NOC to the Serula Communidade,” said Naik.
Rajesh Amonkar said since the Serula Communidade has already sold the plots, there is no point in arguing or pursuing the matter with the Collectorate of North Goa and the panchayat should issue construction licenses to the people who have applied for it. “The panchayat should look out for another open space for the construction of indoor stadium,” suggested Amonkar.
Bhiku Sawant said the panchayat does not get revenue from the dealers of two- and four-wheelers, who are operating in Porvorim.
“Few years ago, panchayat is to charge tax of Rs 25 per vehicle to the dealers of four-vehicles. The dealers were paying the tax, but later the panchayat stopped collecting it from the vehicle dealers,” said Sawant.
“The panchayat should investigate under whose instruction tax collection from four-wheeler dealers was stopped,” added Sawant and suggested that the panchayat should charge Rs 500 per vehicle for four-wheeler dealers and Rs 100 per vehicle for two-wheeler dealers.
Eknath Narvekar suggested that the panchayat should conduct the survey of kiosks operating in the panchyat area and take action against those who are operating illegally.
Olavio Braganza said some house owners are not paying house taxes because the panchayat has not charged them house tax as per the government notification and hence demanded that the panchayat should look into the matter at the earliest.
Earlier on behalf of the panchayat, Vinod Kumbharjuvekar presented the Statement of Accounts of Income and Expenditure for the period from April 2010 to June 30 2010.
During the three months, the panchayat has collected Rs 8.35 lakh by way of House, Professional and Hoarding taxes and Rs 2.58 lakh through Construction License and other fees.
On the expenditure front, the panchayat has spent Rs 6.24 lakh on Public works, Rs 2.76 lakh on Administration and Rs 2.60 lakh on Sanitation and Public Health.
Earlier, Sarpanch Gopal Sawant welcomed the gathering and Panchayat Secretary Mardolker read the minutes of the gram sabha held on April 25. The gram sabha was held in the Community Hall at Alto-Betim.
Milind Anvekar, Prabhudessai and Shekar Vaigankar participated in the discussions.