Benaulim sarpanch walks out,meet continues

MARGAO, JULY 11
Benaulim Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes walked out of the gram sabha midway through the meeting on Sunday amidst uproar as members cornered her on a host of issues, especially garbage disposal.
Incidentally, the meeting continued despite the absence of the Sarpanch after it was chaired by panch member Menino De Bandar.
The Sarpanch later said she decided to walk out of the meeting as some of the members were abusive in their language. Carmelina further said the members were demanding that she apologise for filing an affidavit in the High Court on garbage disposal, which she refused to do so. “Why should I apologise through the media. I asked the members why she is to be blamed for the affidavit when the panchayat was guided by the secretary. Still, I told the members that the affidavit can be rectified”, she added.
The question of the affidavit filed by the Panchayat body in the High Court literally brought the Sarpanch and the gram sabha members face to face, which finally prompted the Sarpanch to walk out of the meeting hall.
The gram sabha members charged the Sarpanch for not answering to the queries raised at the meeting, especially on the garbage issue.
The members sought to know from the Sarpanch how the Panchayat has filed an affidavit in the High Court stating that the body has set up vermin composting units, and is now asking the members to identify a site for waste composting site.
They pointed out that when members of the Benaulim Villagers Action Committee were trying to find out a solution to the waste problem, the panchayat had showed least interest. “Even the local MLA did not turn up for the meeting called by the Committee on garbage disposal”, the members pointed out.
Member Rudolf Barretto said the villagers are willing to offer all cooperation to solve the garbage problem, with members saying that the issue can be managed at the household level.
Gram sabha members also raised the question of poor recovery of revenue by the Panchayat body. Members also called upon the Panchayat to rectify the affidavit filed in the High Court on the composting pits and garbage disposal.