VASCO: The Cansaulim-Arossim-Cuelim gram sabha has unanimously passed a resolution to demand the immediate suspension of panchayat secretary Pradeep Tamankar and a departmental inquiry into the lapses during his tenure.
The gram sabha also resolved to condemn the “irresponsible” behavior of Sarpanch Filomena D’Mello, Deputy Sarpanch Jose Marie Furtado, the secretary and other panchas, who remained absent for the crucial meeting without giving a reason. It was also resolved to inquire into their absence and recover the gram sabha expenses from them.
A host of important issues were discussed at the gram sabha, which was chaired by panch John Fernandes and attended by RDA Minister and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, on Sunday morning.
However, almost every point in the meeting agenda could not be discussed properly due to the absence of the key panchayat members.
While the minutes of the last gram sabha were being confirmed, member Sheela Gracious pointed out that few issues, including Heli-joy rides, had not been discussed in that meeting, but were wrongly added to the minutes by the secretary. The gram sabha asked the chair to delete those points and pass the minutes.
While discussing the panchayat budget, Dr Marconi Correia raised serious concerns over the absence of the panchayat members. He said, “A serious discussion on the budget cannot be taken up without the presence of the sarpanch, deputy sarpanch and secretary. It only shows their lack of interest in the development of the village. As the budget cannot be passed, the same will affect developmental works in the village, which is unacceptable.”
A resolution to condemn the irresponsible behavior of the key panch members was later passed.
MLA Saldanha informed that on Panchayati Raj Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to connect with gram sabhas across country. She said, “His speech was to be streamed live to gram sabhas across the country. Here in Cansaulim, we have a secretary and seven panchas who play truant on Panchayat Raj Day, which is shameful. I feel that the secretary should be blamed for the lapses as he failed to inform the villagers about the Prime Minister’s agenda on that day. I will take up the villagers’ demand for the secretary’s suspension before the panchayat minister shortly.”
Correia then proposed a resolution to file a complaint with the Director of Panchayat against the panchayat secretary for his absenteeism, concealing panchayat records, not maintaining registers, not executing panchayat resolutions, and concealing the data of the biometrics machine installed in the panchayat office to record his attendance and time of entry.
He also proposed a resolution to file a petition in the High Court regarding the Competent Automobiles case. Both resolutions were unanimously adopted by the gram sabha members.
The villagers also had a heated argument on the issue of the grounded pontoon at Arossim beach. They questioned the way the panchayat had issued its permission for the beach wedding and alleged that Park Hyatt hotel in Arossim was the prime reason for the mess in their villages.
“The hotel first destroyed our streams and nullahs by releasing sewage. It then started Heli-joy rides, and now it is responsible for the pontoon that ran aground on the beach. We feel that the hotel has been taking the villagers for granted and a leader like MLA Nilesh Cabral has been part of such decisions, which are disastrous for the village,” said Simon D’Souza.
The gram sabha members also resolved that no film shooting or beach wedding should be allowed along the coast from Velsao to Arossim.
