South ZP members to file contempt plea against Govt

MARGAO, JAN 21  
Accusing the government for its lack of commitment towards Panchayati Raj and rural development, South Goa Zilla Panchayat members resolved to file a contempt petition against the Goa Government for its failure to devolve funds and powers to the district panchayat body as per the assurance given to the High Court.
The Zilla Panchayat has further adopted a resolution demanding that the government give 10 per cent of budgetary funds allocated to the PWD, RDA, Health, Education to the district panchayat body.
Taking strong exception to the repeated failures by successive governments to arm the Zilla Panchayats with powers as per the Constitutional Amendment, the members resolved to hold a hunger strike in support of its long pending demand.
The zilla members have decided to hold a joint meeting with their North Goa ZP counterparts in February before filing the contempt of court petition and chalk out the future course of action.
“The government has not even given the Zilla Panchayat Rs three crore development grant in the current financial year. This shows its commitment to panchayat raj institutions and rural development. It’s time the Zilla Panchayats of North and South Goa jointly filed a contempt of court petition against the government”, demanded Colva ZP member Nelly Rodrigues.
What left the Zilla member fuming was when South Goa ZP Chairperson Maria Rebello said the body would soon tender developmental works amounting to Rs five lakh. “Is the Zilla Panchayat supposed to tender developmental works of Rs five lakh for the 20 constituencies when constituencies represented by the Ministers and MLAs tender works in crores of rupees”, Nelly demanded to know.
She demanded that the Zilla Panchayat prepare the budget estimates for the coming financial year to the tune of Rs 30 crore so that the body receives at least Rs 10 crore development grant. “The Chief Minister has promised to prepare the state budget by taking everyone into confidence. Let the proposal from the ZP body also go to the Chief Minister”, she said.
In a lighter vein, a Zilla member said that instead of tendering developmental works amounting to Rs five lakh, the amount should be spent on purchase of onions and potatoes for distribution to the constituents.
ZP member Pradeep Naik suggested that the members resort to a hunger strike in support of the demands. When his proposal received support from the members, he hoped that the members would not back out on political considerations.
The issue over powers and function came to the fore when ZP member Dayanand Pagi pointed out that Poinguinim constituency has been a neglected lot and demanded funds for developmental projects.
Participating in the discussions, ZP Member Pradeep Desai said it is in deed a shame that Pagi, being an aam admi ka sipayi is crying for funds and is an indication of the state of affairs.