MARGAO, DEC 29
Benaulim village may have been in the forefront in the movement against mega housing projects throughout 2008, but is one village which is yet to constitute the village committee to deliberate and discuss the Draft Regional Plan 2021.
In fact, blame it on the Panchayat body or otherwise, the Benaulim Gram Sabha is yet to put in place the village committee to discuss the RP 2021. And, take note, no one knows for sure when the committee will be constituted by the Gram Sabha as no meeting stands convened by the Panchayat body till date.
Benaulim Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes has proceeded on leave and her deputy, Stanley Fernandes, who has taken over the charge, was candid enough in admitting that the Panchayat is yet to convene the extra ordinary Gram Sabha meeting to put the village committee in place.
Incidentally, village panchayat bodies bordering Benaulim such as Colva have already begun the process to deliberate on the draft RP 2021.
Incidentally, the Panchayat had listed the matter of constituting the village Committee at two of the previous Gram Sabha meetings, but the agenda could not be transacted.
This prompted the Benaulim Villagers Action Committee to knock the doors of the Deputy Director of Panchayats, South Sandhya Kamat and the Salcete BDO who later advised the Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes to hold the meeting on December 21.
However, when the Gram Sabha members turned up for the meeting on December 21, the Panchayat Ghar was found locked.
Salcete BDO Uday Prabhudessai said the Benaulim Panchayat should have complied with the directions of the Deputy Director of Panchayats, South to hold the meeting on December 21.
