MARGAO: The Sarzora gram sabha which was held in the open air in the courtyard of the panchayat house like the olden gram sabhas held under the banyan tree, approved a budget that had a surplus of Rs 28.12 lakh.
Besides, the gram sabha also agreed in principle to allow BSNL to erect a mobile tower and decided to wage a war against the rapidly increasing mosquito population in the village.
The budget approved by the gram sabha had a surplus of Rs 28.12 lakh given the fact that the projected income was Rs 94.48 lakhs as against the projected expenditure of Rs 66.36 lakh. The projected income included the opening balance of Rs 48.78 lakh.
The budget provided for only Rs 2 lakhs as grants for garbage management even though it is entitled for Rs 5 lakh. The budget provided Rs 2 lakh for computer maintenance and Rs 1 lakh for maintenance of public wells.
It also provided Rs 1 lakh for unexplained expenses as that much amount has been allotted for “Others’ under the miscellaneous expenses.
On mosquito menace, Sarpanch Sabita Mascarenhas said it was time to wage a war on the menace and advised the people to cover the outlet pipe of their septic tanks with a wire mesh and even offered to provide this mesh to the people.
“I would request you to kindly check your septic tanks carefully and pay attention to the lid which is the place where the mosquitoes enter the tanks,” she said advising people to plaster cement on the lids once again to ensure that mosquitoes do not breed there.
She distributed a liquid supplied by the health services to all present and asked them to spray the liquid on stagnant water wherever present in their neighbourhood.
She also disclosed plans to start the cattle pound for which land has already been acquired by the panchayat and asked the person whose name was proposed to be the cattle pound to start his work soon.
The villagers in principle agreed to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd’s proposal to erect a mobile tower in the village. However, as the site is not yet decided a final decision will be taken at the next gram sabha after identifying the site to set up the tower.
Sabita also disclosed that from 1st March the panchayat would commence dry waste collection from households and asked the villagers to co-operate. “We do not have a problem with wet garbage but we shall be organizing a camp on vermin compost for the villagers shortly,” she said.
Even though “Any other business or AOB” was not included in the agenda as villagers demanded to raise issues, they were given a patient hearing with the Sarpanch clarifying that she was just listening to them to take whatever steps are required.
When people pointed out that the Dandevaddo junction had become very dangerous for the people she said she could at the most request the neighbouring Chinchinim-Deussua panchayat to do something as Dandevaddo comes within the jurisdiction of that panchayat.
The villagers also expressed their resentment against the continuous absence of panchayat member Jacinto Fernandes for the gram sabhas. Incidentally Jacinto is the former Sarpanch of the village and the Sarpanch explained that the law does not make it mandatory for panchayat members to attend the gram sabha.
