Team Herald
MARGAO: A surplus budget of Rs 83 lakh for 2016-17 was passed at the Curtorim gram sabha on Sunday. The annual plan for the same year was also approved.
Acting sarpanch Simon Barreto, who had presented the budget, stated that the expenditure had been pegged at Rs 87 lakh.
The gram sabha also approved 31 works proposed under the 14th Finance Commission. The works will be taken up on priority and include development of open spaces and cleaning of drains.
There was a heated debate on the regional plan issue after villagers complained that the panchayat did not hold a gram sabha to discuss the same and that the matter was last taken up at a special gram sabha on December 19.
Former deputy sarpanch Santan Rodrigues clarified that the gram sabha had to be held on that day due to the deadline for submitting suggestions and that the government had later extended the deadline.
He also pointed out that the panchayat had forwarded the draft plan that had been prepared by the village committee as the same had not been incorporated in the regional plan submitted in 2011.
It is to be noted that the panchayat had also written to the TCP for a proper survey plan of the village in view of the discrepancies in the RP.
The gram sabha also discussed the issue of migrants residing in tenanted premises in view of the demand for their verification.
The works taken up in the present financial year were reviewed and the gram sabha was informed that 80 percent of the works were expected to be completed before the end of the financial year.
