GUIRIM: Garbage tax was the main issue that dominated the Guirim gram sabha on Sunday, which started with Secretary Arjun Velip reading out the minutes of the previous meeting.
A heated discussion took place on the issue of the amount of garbage tax to be levied on households. Since Sarpanch Sunny Nanodkar was absent for the meeting, Deputy Sarpanch Chaitali Morajkar informed that an amount of Rs 440 is proposed as the revised garbage tax. The villagers were furious and sought to know why a new amount was introduced from the existing amount of Rs 365.
Former sarpanch Fondu Naik said that levying a higher garbage tax would burden the villagers.
“Don’t confuse the villagers by stating some vague amount please specify what is the exact amount of garbage tax,” Fondu Naik demanded from the deputy sarpanch.
The discussion on the amount of garbage saw villagers raising their voices and demanding a proper answer from Chaitali Morajkar.
Villagers also sought to know from the deputy sarpanch whether the hotels in the locality were also charged the same amount.
Fondu Naik proposed to the panchayat to adopt a resolution and send a proposal to name the new Mandovi Bridge coming up in Panjim after the late former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Secretary Arjun Velip listed out the various development plans for the village and the estimated budget prepared to undertake the development projects. However the meeting failed to discuss any development works.
As a number of other issues were raised at the gram Sabha which were not listed in the agenda; due to this, the situation was getting out of control, forcing the deputy sarpanch wind up the meeting.
