Team Herald
MARGAO: The administration apparently has given step motherly treatment to the panchayats and not acted as per the laid down norms due to which probably the panchayats tend to be a little lax in their functioning.
For example the Block Development Officer is supposed to inspect the panchayats thrice in a year. However, BDO Amitesh Shirvoikar has inspected Raia panchayat only once and has not inspected any of the other panchayats under his jurisdiction. BDO Milindra Velip did not inspect any of the panchayats under his jurisdiction.
The Extension officer is supposed to inspect each panchayat 5 times in a year. However, the EO has inspected Colva, Betalbatim, Loutolim, Chinchinim, Velim, Guirdolim, Assolna, Orlim, Sao Jose de Areal and Rachol panchayats twice and the Camorlim panchayat thrice. This is probably because the EO was appointed in the middle of the year.
The panchayat secretary who is appointed by the government has to furnish a surety bond which is Rs 500 fixed deposit in a postal account or nationalized bank. However, only five secretaries in Salcete have done this and they are Purshottam Alve of Orlim, Uday Phaldessai of Varca, Krishna Dessai of Sarzora, Joaquim Rodrigues of Navelim and Krishna Gaude of Sao Jose de Areal.
Transfer of secretaries by the administration continued to haunt the panchayats in 2017-18. Only five panchayats namely Cana Benaulim, Colva, Aquem Baixo, Loutolim and Velim had only one secretary, while all others had their secretaries transferred with Carmona having nine secretaries in that year followed by Colva and Navelim that had five secretaries.
The government departments are also tardy in payment of rent of premises leased out from the panchayats with the Electricity Department that is prompt to disconnect power supply being the biggest defaulter.
Electricity Department owes Curtorim panchayat Rs 1.82 lakh, Davorlim Dicarpale panchayat Rs 1.19 lakh, Paroda panchayat Rs 48,960 and Guirdolim panchayat Rs 2.09 lakh. Besides, Health Services has to pay Davorlim Dicarpale Rs 1 lakh, Goa Police has to pay Rumdamol Davorlim panchayat Rs 2.41 lakh and BSNL has to pay Chandor Cavorim Rs 14,201.
Areal and Camorlim had the same person elected as sarpanch after the new body was elected.
