Poriem panchayat comes under Poriem constituency. In the past five years, there were four sarpanchas. There are total seven wards – Majik, Ghol, Rane, Chich Mala, Tulsi Mala, Podshe, and Sawant wada. The panchayat has a population of 5030 and total voters are 3891.
The elected panchas have been frequently changing their loyalties. During the first three years, all seven panchas remained with BJP and later aligned with Pratapsing Rane and his son Vishwajit.
Though the panchayat is financially strong, it did not carry out any development in the village in the last five years. The roads and playground are in poor condition.
The villagers have been raising the issues of water shortage and lack of development at the gram sabhas. However, the panchayat has not paid any heed to their demands. The attendance at gram sabha has been overwhelming, where the panchas have been taken to task.
“We are collecting Rs 25 lakh as revenue from petrol pump, Goa Institute of Management, House Tax and registration of cell phone tower,” says Sarpanch Bhiso Gaonkar.
“A major problem in our panchayat is shortage of water. Our water main pipeline is 40 years old and there is a leakage at many places. We have passed a resolution at the gram sabha demanding replacement of the pipeline. We also met the PDW minister, but till today nothing has happened,” says Narayan Manjrekar, a panch.
