MARGAO: The government’s Zilla Panchayat’s delimitation exercise came in for severe criticism at the Sunday Gram Sabhas in some of the villages in Salcete taluka. Some of the gram sabhas have resolved that the government should not hold Zilla Panchayat polls on party lines.
The issue figured prominently at the Guirdolim Gram Sabha when members demanded to know the rationale behind the inclusion and exclusion of villages from Guirdolim ZP constituency and its reservation for the women (ST). Members pointed out that Guirdolim was reserved last time round for women and wondered how the same constituency has been reserved again for women (scheduled tribes).
Members were also agitated over the inclusion of villages such as Ambaulim and Balli into Guirdolim ZP constituency and deletion of Macazana and Sarzora villages from the constituency. When members demanded to know from Guirdolim Sarpanch Sonia Dias whether the government authorities have consulted the panchayat body on the delimitation exercise, she replied that the panchayat was not taken into confidence before carrying out the exercise.
Members sounded highly critical for pushing the delimitation and reservation on the people without taking the ground realities into consideration. They pointed out that the exercise was not carried out on sound principles as the villages of Balli and Ambaulim are far from Guirdolim and Chandor villages.
The issue also took centre stage at the Rachol Gram Sabha. Agitated members demanded to know from Sarpanch Joseph Vaz the reason behind including Rachol village in Raia ZP constituency when the village was earlier a part of Curtorim ZP constituency.
The sarpanch also demanded to know the rationale behind reserving Raia ZP constituency for women (ST) suspecting a hidden agenda from the powers that be. He said the panchayat will convey the decision of the Rachol Gram Sabha condemning the delimitation exercise,” Vaz said.
Meanwhile, the Carmona Gram Sabha has resolved to ask the government not to hold the panchayat polls on party lines. Sarpanch Lavita Dias said that since the government has gone ahead with the ZP polls on party lines without taking the sentiments of the people, members demanded that the panchayat polls should not be on party lines.
