MARGAO: The South Goa Zilla Panchayat (SGZP) body has been thrown into a quandary, after the State government has asked it to return ‘administrative funds’ amounting to Rs 24 crore, which were granted to it in the past.
This issue was one of the many topics discussed at the meeting of the SGZP held on Tuesday.
However, while addressing media persons, the SGZP Chairperson Suvarna Tendulkar clarified that this issue was not due to any fault of the SGZP, but that extra funds that had been given by the State government for administrative purposes such as paying staff salaries and running the office.
“Please note that the Zilla Panchayat receives funds under two categories, one for Administrative and the second for Rural Infrastructure Development (RID). So going forward, the ZP members have taken a decision based on which we will now write back to the government asking if these funds can be converted to the RID category, which can be used to help the public,” Tendulkar added.
While she conceded that as of now, they have to return the funds soon, she expressed hope that the government will listen to their plea and see the funds are retained with the SGZP.
Earlier at the meeting, the members discussed the issue of pending works that were not taken up due to various technical difficulties such as the Covid pandemic and PWD’s Goa Schedule of Rates (GSR), based on which contracts are given.
Tendulkar said they had already asked the government to increase the rates and that they had received a copy of the recent amendment pertaining to the new GSR. She said they will study the matter and accordingly take fresh decisions about pending works such as shed construction, etc.
The ZP members also raised the issue of unutilised tribal funds and they agreed that these funds should be utilised for the benefit of the tribal community.
Finally, the SGZP also took a decision to supply electrical goods such as tube lights to ZP members as well as dustbins which are to be distributed across their respective wards.
