Orlim members demand dissolution of panchayat

MARGAO, MARCH 21
The Orlim gram sabha witnessed an uproar as agitated members demanded the resignation of the panch members and the dissolution of the Panchayat for failure to implement resolutions adopted at the meetings.
The gram sabha members staged a walk out over the protest against the absence of panch members at the gram sabha and panchayat meetings. They demanded the disqualification of panch member Gerson Barretto for his failure to attend two panchayat and two gram sabha meetings.
Members blamed the Panchayat body for the failure to implement resolutions against mega housing projects.
Members also opposed the file put by Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco for the sub-division of plots, with members saying that villagers will not allow filling of low lying land in the village.
They expressed their ire over the non-implementation of resolutions against mega housing projects, with members demanding scrapping of projects passed by the Panchayat in violation of the gram sabha resolutions.
Members demanded that the Panchayat should approved projects based on the RP 2021 and revoke all licenses passed by the body in violation of the Regional Plan.
Members bitterly complained that though resolutions have been passed by the gram sabha against mega housing projects, the Panchayat has gone ahead and approved the very same projects opposed by the villagers. They cited the case of Meenaxi housing project saying that though the April 2008 meeting has opposed the project, the file was later cleared by the panchayat body. “The Panchayat body even failed to issue a notice to the builder despite the gram sabha resolutions”, complained Kim Miranda and demanded implementation of all gram sabha resolutions in letter and spirit.
When the Sarpanch Godfrey Rodrigues sought to know from the agitated members the definition of mega housing projects, members point blank told him to refer to the RP 2021 approved by the villagers and which make provision for only ground-plus one storey buildings in the village.
Members were also agitated over the rampant filling of low lying land and paddy fields in the village with the authorities turning a blind eye to the irregularities.
Referring to Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco’s visit to one of the properties in Orlim a month ago, gram sabha members felt the MLA should not be allowed to carry out land filling even if the land in question is owned by him. The members demanded that Ministers and MLAs should do their job for what they are elected and stop meddling in the affairs of villagers by filling up their land and water bodies.
The meeting also discussed the sale of a property near the Church with members demanding to know the fate of the resolution adopted by the gram sabha to acquire the land in question. Lamenting that a portion of the property has been disposed off by the owners, the gram sabha members once again demanded implementation of the gram sabha resolutions.
Agitated members also demanded the resignation of the Panch members over their failure to attend the gram sabha and panchayat meetings. The gram sabha members had even stage a walk out for a brief period in protest against the absence of Panch member Jason Barretto for the gram sabha and Panchayat body meetings.