MARGAO: Camorlim Village Panchayat on Saturday became the first village in Goa to generate 22 KV of solar power that will be supplied to the Power Grid, besides commissioning its own website for providing information to visitors.
South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha commissioned solar grid set up on the roof top of Camorlim panchayat under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme that was sanctioned by his predecessor Narendra Sawaikar.
Thanking Sawaikar for sanctioning the work, Camorlim Sarpanch Basilio Fernandes admitted that many projects have been taken up under MPLAD in the village. And Sardinha said that even Sawaikar had commissioned projects sanctioned earlier by him.
The 22 KV solar grid is directly connected to the Power Grid and will supply power to the Power Department after taking whatever is required for the panchayat and installed at the cost of Rs 10 lakh has 64 solar panels.
On the occasion, Sardinha urged the people to suggest projects beneficial to the villagers at the gram sabhas and assured to take them up under MPLAD scheme.
He ridiculed the BJP government for acting in haste and explained how the GST issue was mismanaged as initially 180 items were brought under it and then reduced to 80 and now the tax is reduced on quite a few.
“Why cannot the officials think about everything first and only then implement it instead of using this method of changing taxes and items to be taxed regularly?” he asked.
Former minister Aleixo Sequeira congratulated the panchayat for dedicating the power grid to late Conceicao Dias, who served the village as sarpanch for 30 years.
Urging all present to observe one minute’s silence as tribute to late Dias, Sarpanch Basilio Fernandes said the need was now to address the garbage problem and make Camorlim totally garbage free village for which he said all have to say ‘No’ to plastic.
He also announced plans for water harvesting and asked the people to avoid using concrete while laying pavers or interlocking tiles so that rain water can percolate to the water table and not get just flow away.
WEBSITE: South Goa Collector Ajit Roy commissioned the website of Camorlim panchayat that has been designed by Liselle D’Costa from Colva who is yet to submit her bill. The website will provide all applications and formats and receive complaints besides taking bookings for the playground and hall.
In a later stage, the website will be upgraded to accept on line payments as it will give details of the various taxes and arrears payable by people.
Zilla member Fatima Gaunkar and sarpanchas of neighbouring Loutolim and Raia and former sarpanch of Rachol were present for the function.
