MARGAO: Directions were issued to all the Zilla Panchayat members at the South Goa ZP body meeting, to ensure that the village panchayats under their respective jurisdiction send in their village development plans to the SGZP as soon as possible.The matter came up during discussions of the much-delayed compilation of the District Development Plan (DDP) that the SGZP, which is part of the District Planning Committee (DPC) has to coordinate.
SGZP Chairperson Suvarna Tendulkar explained that the village panchayats are supposed to send their individual development plans in a prescribed format.
It may be recalled that after the last SGZP meeting held in April, reminders were sent to the panchayats.
“So far, 59 panchayats have sent their development plans while 30 panchayats are yet to send theirs. Some of these panchayats who have not sent them claim they have sent it in the past, but they need to send it again so that it is applicable for the correct financial year,” she added. She also clarified that in the case of panchayats that had sent in their plans, but not in the prescribed format, the SGZP officials made the necessary corrections. She was responding to a query if some plans sent by the panchayats were rejected on technical grounds.
Tendulkar also gave updates that 36 proposals concerning the development works in various constituencies of SGZP members are in the process of being tendered and attributed the delay to the fact the funds got sanctioned to them only in February.
She pointed out that this was after SGZP got approval from the government to use the additional Rs 24 crore administrative fund they were initially asked to return.
The SGZP also stated that they are following up with the Chief Minister regarding the construction of the promised ZP Bhavan in South Goa.
