Team Herald
ASSOLNA: Issues of frequent power fluctuations and a faulty electricity transformer ruining the villagers’ electrical appliances, the perennial traffic chaos in the Passagem and Tariwaddo wards, increasing the house tax after a proper assessment, chocked nullah near the Assolna bridge and migrants dominated the Assolna gram sabha held, on Sunday.
Sarpanch Xavier Almeida told Herald that the gram sabha members resolved that the Assolna Village Panchayat write to the Electricity Department regarding the frequent power fluctuations and the faulty electricity transformer in Assolna resulting in damages to the electrical appliances of the villagers.
Also discussed during this gram sabha was the problem of the perennial traffic chaos surrounding the popular bar and restaurants in the Passagem and Tariwaddo wards in Assolna with vehicles parked on both sides of the road.
“This problem has now resurfaced after two years with the bikers zooming on these roads. While they were closed during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they have now reopened their premises. There was no problem for two years but now the problem of traffic congestion has commenced. So the gram sabha unanimously resolved that the panchayat will summon the owners of these establishments along with the Traffic Police and other stakeholders and amicably resolve the matter,” Sarpanch Xavier said.
“Also, the panchayat will write to the Excise Department to inspect the premises of these bars and restaurants especially in view of complaints that the premises of these bars are kept open till late night,” the sarpanch said.
The issue of the nuisance posed by the chocked nullah near the Assolna bridge was also raised at the gram sabha.
“There is a growth of mangroves since this nullah is clogged with the water not flowing. It was cleared earlier but the NGOs had objected so it was resolved that the panchayat will write to the Water Resources Department (WRD) as the villagers have requested that the path be cleared for the water to flow,” Xavier said.
The gram sabha also highlighted the issue of the financially weak villagers succumbing to COVOID-19 wherein it was unanimously resolved to provide these villagers with a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 for which a provision will be made from the forthcoming financial year 2022 onwards.
“A villager expired due to COVID-19 two months back. Later, his wife expired. They were poor and lacked finance to conduct the funeral rites. Hence, the panchayat will identify such poor deserving cases with the assistance of socio-religious organisations such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), besides the ward members and provide them a financial grant of Rs 10,000. Moreover, senior citizens will be provided the benefits of the Swayampurna scheme and other schemes,” he said.
Another major issue deliberated at the gram sabha pertained to increasing the house tax after a proper assessment wherein the old rates of Rs 10 and Rs 15 would be revised.
“However, the gram sabha members approved the decision to hike the house tax rates after a proper assessment with a minimum of Rs 100 being charged. The house tax of those residents having tiled roofs would be hiked by Rs 4 or Rs 5 whereas the house tax of those residents having concrete roofing would be hiked by Rs 7,” said Xavier.
Another issue that was heatedly discussed during the gram sabha attended by all seven panch members pertaining to the migrants residing in Assolna wherein it was decided to impose an annual tax upon these non-Goan residents as per their lease agreements.
“The panchyat has verified the migrants inhabiting Assolna and it was discovered that some of these migrants do not possess any lease agreements. Hence, the panchayat will impose an annual tax on them on instalment basis,” Xavier said.
