TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Chaos and pandemonium reigned supreme at the Betalbatim village gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Maria Esperanca Fernandes, who was booed by the gram sabha members at the time of confirming the minutes of the previous gram sabha, for failure to provide a compliance report in respect of various issues raised at that meeting.
The minutes of the previous gram sabha could not be confirmed as members alleged that the sarpanch had failed to give a compliance report. Agitated members demanded that the same be kept in abeyance.
Gram sabha members grilled the sarpanch on various issues raised at the previous gram sabha, however, the sarpanch failed to give satisfactory replies and clarifications. The gram sabha members objected to the panchayat secretary replying to the questions.
Gram sabha members raised a number of queries at the time of confirmation of minutes of the previous gram sabha regarding notice board warning on dumping of garbage, absenteeism by panchayat members at Vigilance Committee of Panchayat meeting and removal of temporary structures along the seashore. Bryan Rodrigues raised the issue of garbage accumulation and action taken by sarpanch in her own ward at Malwaddo-Betalbatim, where the sarpanch herself remained absent for the inspection called by the panchayat body. Marcus D’Silva raised the issue of closure of access to the beach by a private party by erecting barred wire fencing, while gram sabha members also raised grievance over trees being cut on the seashore expressing fear of soil erosion.
Mickky and Maria in war-of-words
A heated war of words broke out at the Sunday gram sabha of Betalbatim between the sarpanch and Nuvem MLA Francisco Mickky Pacheco over development works proposed by the MLA and estimated over Rs 8 crore. Villagers blamed sarpanch Maria Esperanca Fernandes for not taking the local MLA into confidence. Mickky informed that he had obtained sanction for a walking track from Consua to Colva boundary along the seashore and also village roads development at the cost of Rs 8 crore. He said the project file had been submitted to the panchayat two years ago for suggestions and objections. He further informed that it took him more than a year to get the NOC from Betalbatim village panchayat. Sarpanch Fernandes tried to prove herself right and contradicted the MLA’s statement only to be grilled by the members. Mickky then requested the villagers to go through the details of the project and bring to his attention any changes or grievances or suggestions. He also stated that he had initiated developments works including development of Vodlem Tollem.
