VASCO: Sancoale villagers and panch members are upset due to the month-long absence of a sarpanch. While complaining of hardships, they stated that a huge pile of applications was pending before the panchayat and that development works in the village were at stake. The post has been vacant since a no-confidence motion against sarpanch Sharan Meti was successfully moved on July 4. The date to elect a new sarpanch is yet to be announced.
“Firstly, we are the biggest victims of instability in the panchayat. We have not seen any development in the village as our panchas are only interested in the ‘musical chair’ games. This will be the fifth sarpanch in a span of three years. Also, there is an unnecessary delay by the administration to announce the date for electing a new sarpanch, due to which the village is neglected today,” said Tulsidas Naik, RTI activist and Sancoale local.
The panchayat has stopped lifting garbage in the absence of a sarpanch. Additionally, the files related to construction licenses, occupancy certificates, disposing of application for imposition of tax, collection of arrears, cleaning of bushes/weeds, gutters, nullahs, and several other routine works are pending since Meti was ousted.
“Forget about development, the village is facing severe problems due to the garbage menace. The panchayat has stopped lifting garbage since the last two months, and one can see piles of garbage all over. When it rains, the same garbage flows down the roads and into storm-water drains, due to which we have witnessed flood-like situations on many recent occasions,” said Sancoale resident Bharat Sail.
Presently, the villagers are more upset due to the pending cleaning works in all eleven panchayat wards. Panch member Govind Lamani stated, “Every year the panchayat used to clear the roadside weeds and bushes in view of Ganesh Chaturthi. Due to the absence of a decision maker, the same work is yet to start. The villagers are upset as the festival is fast approaching and there is no sign of a sarpanch. With the suspension of the panchayat secretary, the situation has become worse; two important posts in the panchayat are vacant.”
