TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: Six of the seven panchayats in Sanvordem constituency are in a piquant situation as these panchayats do not have a full-time secretary.
According to information, six panchayats, Kirlapal-Dabal, Dharbandora, Sacorda, Mollem, Collem and Sanvordem, are managed by three secretaries, who are available for three days in each panchayat causing delays in panchayat-related works and also affecting villagers who often have to return without getting their work done.
The Sanvordem constituency comprises seven panchayats of which six do not have full-time secretary, some for the last couple of years, while some for several months.
“Non-availability of full-time secretary in the panchayat is affecting villagers as well as panchayat-related works. Our panchayat had a full-time secretary but the secretary was given additional charge of Mollem Panchayat,” Dharbandora Sarpanch Guru Gaonkar told Herald. “Three days of the week secretary looks after Dharbandora, while remaining three days at Mollem Panchayat,” he added.
“In emergency, when the secretary is needed here, we arrange a vehicle to bring the secretary from Mollem Panchayat to Dharbandora. The Mollem Panchayat has already written to the concerned departments and we will also write to the concerned departments,” said Gaonkar.
The three secretaries manage two panchayats each, Kirlapal-Dabal and Sanvordem panchayats, Sancorda and Collem panchayats, Dharbandora and Mollem, while Kale Panchayat has a full-time secretary.
Inquiries at Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar office revealed that the MLA in aware of the situation and has discussed the issue with the panchayat minister.
It is learnt that the panchayat minister has assured to depute three secretaries once the recruitment process is completed.
