TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The Curtorim gram sabha witnessed pandemonium and chaos after the villagers protested over the manipulation of the minutes of the previous gram sabha.
The gram sabha had to be adjourned three times after chaos and confusion prevailed at the meeting.
The Sunday gram sabha witnessed chaos right from the start when minutes were being read with allegation by gram sabha members Charles Barreto and others of the same been recorded wrongly by the panchayat secretary. They accused the secretary of manipulating the minutes along with Sarpanch Valentina Braganza.
While the gram sabha refused to confirm the minutes, there was demand for action taken report on various resolutions including regarding Jaica Project, at Ramnagari for which the panchayat body has collected tax of RS 20,000 as against the proposal by Charles Barretto to collect Rs 53,000 as tax.
Deputy Sarpanch Joaquim Santano Rodrigues, who chaired the meeting, had to face the brunt of the gram sabha members. The villagers refused to confirm the minutes of last gram sabha meeting and demanded that the same be rewritten and corrected and be brought for confirmation at next gram sabha.
While minutes could not be confirmed, issues discussed included on collection of garbage to decide on the expenditure of amount of Rs one crore given by state government under Dindayal Scheme , re-assessment of house tax increasing existing tax by 5 percent and imposing commercial tax on all commercial establishments. Amidst confusion the Water and Sanitation Committee was also reconstituted. Charles Barreto also questioned the chair to clarify on the actual expenditure incurred in last year budget visa-visa the proposed budget for 2014-15 which was proposed at the Sunday meeting.
Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, who intervened in the discussions, called for cooperation of the villagers in ushering development of the village. He said the panchayat should cooperate with the villagers to ensure all round development of the village.
