PANJIM: Goencho Avaaz on Monday said the recent circular by the Directorate of panchayats to further curb the powers of the panchayats is a direct attack on the series of anti-people and anti-democratic decisions of the present government in Goa.
“The move exposes the corrupt mindset of the government and its ministers in throttling the working of the panchayats across Goa,” Goencho Avaaz said in a press note issued here.
It said the move to control the panchayats across Goa through a remote control from the State Secretariat is driven by the greed to make commissions on contracts that will be floated to undertake development works in the villages by the respective panchayats.
“The nexus between the contractors and the bigwigs occupying seats of power was well known, but the recent move to even eye the commissions on small contracts like cleaning of gutters, clearing of garbage, undertaking small repair works, etc, that immediately affect the villagers and which can be undertaken by the panchayats within their financial powers shows the mindset of the big political players,” Goencho Avaaz alleged.
It alleged that the present government has relentlessly tried its best to snatch the powers accorded to the panchayats enshrined in the Panchayati Raj as well as the 73rd amendment to ensure that the panchayats as well as the villagers bow in front of them as slaves for even small permissions and approvals.
But, Goencho Avaaz warns these corrupt power brokers that the organisation along with the people, will desist such moves come what may and will take to the streets to ensure that the powers given to the panchayat will not be trampled upon by the government.
“It may be recalled that a few months back, the government had issued a circular in which it was mandatory for all files related to occupancy and construction licences to be sent to the Director of Panchayats. It was widely believed that the real intentions and reasons behind that circular were dictated by the politician-real estate nexus to only benefit the builders lobby by firing from the shoulders of the Director of Panchayats in issuing licences and occupancy certificates. And during the short time that the circular was issued, there were allegations about attempts at the highest level to clear files related to mega projects based in Sancoale. The circular had to be withdrawn under protests from across Goa, but the real corrupt people behind the move were sitting pretty in the corridors of power, despite having long pending court cases against them for corruption,” the release stated.
Goencho Avaaz demanded that the government withdraw the present circular failing which it will be forced to bring the issue to the streets and expose the nefarious and corrupt intentions of those sitting in the corridors of power.
