Team Herald
MARGAO: Macasana villagers vented their anger at Sarpanch Agnelo Costa for remaining absent at the gram sabha on Sunday but also for his non-availability in the panchayat or even over the phone.
Deputy Sarpanch Feliciana Souza informed the gram sabha that the sarpanch had sought leave to attend the Goa Football Association meeting to which the villagers objected saying that the sarpanch should have given priority to the gram sabha.
“If the sarpanch could not be present, the gram sabha should have been held on some other date,” said Milagres Almeida a villager; he was supported by many other villagers. He also pointed out that the sarpanch is rarely available in the panchayat; he is also contactable over the phone as his mobile is either switched off or out of coverage area.
The deputy sarpanch announced that the sarpanch is available in the panchayat every Thursday from 10 am to 12 noon and further said she would convey the villagers’ sentiments to the sarpanch at the next body meeting.
Even as the deputy sarpanch told Milagres that on October 30 the stones dumped behind his house would be removed with police protection, the villager pointed out that he had complained in August and it has taken the panchayat three months to act on the complaint.
She also disclosed that the engineers had inspected the playground a week back and prepared the estimates to construct the toilets and changing rooms and that the work will start by the month of December.
The villagers pointed out that the playground is being prepared for the last 15 years and is not yet completed and suggested that any panchayat member be entrusted with the responsibility of following up on the playground with the concerned department.
The villagers advised the panchayat to cut the road side bushes after the month of August and not in June or July as the bushes grow during the monsoons. The panchayat cleans the drains and clears the bushes in June or July disclosed the deputy sarpanch adding that during the current year, each of the 7 panchas were allotted Rs. 7000 to clean the drains and Rs. 3000 to clear the bushes.
The villagers also complained about the street lights in the village and said they do not function in the night when they are required. Besides they sought to know when the high mast light would turn on as it has been erected three months back but not turned on as yet.
The deputy sarpanch assured to have a town crier announce about the next gram sabha as villagers sought to know why this practice was stopped. Initially the panchayat took the stand that there was no town crier and they did not have funds to pay for a vehicle to more around making the announcement. However, as the villagers questioned this stand they were assured that the gram sabha would be announced through this system instead of depending only on the church announcement.
The villagers also accused the panchayat of not monitoring the working of the panchayat staff and said they are highly irregular in attendance except for one person. Even the Talathi who is supposed to come twice a week is present whenever he wants, alleged Milagres.
