Salvador do Mundo meet seeks action against illegal culvert
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, FEB 13
The issue of illegal construction of motorable culvert over nullah leading to a private property near primary school at Paithon dominated the Salvador do Mundo Gram Sabha on Sunday.
Initiating the discussion, the villagers sought to know why panchayat has not yet demolished the illegal construction. The villagers stated that the illegal culvert over nalla is at an accident-prone zone, as the main road is curved at that location.
“Further, the culvert has been constructed over the nullah by reducing the existing width of the nalla. Side abutments have been constructed within the existing width of the nalla. This will cause obstruction to the flow of rainwater,” said the villagers.
Deputy Sarpanch Prasad Phatarpekar informed that the panchayat had issued stop work notice to the concerned party on February 1, 2011. However, despite the stop work notice, the concerned party has cast RCC slab over the nalla.
“At the request of the villagers, sarpanch and panchayat secretary along with Porvorim Police went to the site to stop the work. However, the work was carried out by the party defying the orders of the sarpanch,” said Phatarpekar.
“The construction is illegal and the panchayat has not issued any permission for it. Hence, the panchayat will take steps to demolish it,” assured Phatarpekar.
The villagers also pointed out that of the nine, only three panch members are present for the gram sabha and sought to know the reasons for their absence. The panchayat secretary replied that no where in the Panchayat Raj Act it has been mentioned that presence of panch members is a must for the gram sabha. “Only quorum is required to conduct the gram sabha,” said the secretary.
The villagers said unless the problem of garbage and water supply is solved, the panchayat should not grant permission to mega projects in the village.
When asked whether the panchayat has revoked the permission granted to 74 villas, the deputy sarpanch informed that the permission cannot be revoked as per the advice given by their advocate.
Phatarpekar presented before the gram sabha the Budget estimates for 2011-12.
In the budget estimates for 2011-12, the expected grants from the government have been shown as Rs 48 lakh and general grants as Rs 10.75 lakh. The income for the panchayat by way of taxes and fees has been projected as Rs 11.45 lakh and Rs 18.98 lakh respectively.
On the expenditure front, Rs 71 lakh has been earmarked for public works and administrative expenses as Rs 21.76 lakh. Provision of Rs 3.95 lakh has been made for sanitation and family health and Rs 3.95 lakh for social welfare and Rs 5.65 lakh for education and culture.
Earlier, Panchayat Secretary Chetan Shirodker read the minutes of the last gram sabha meeting, while Phatarpekar proposed the vote of thanks.
