TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Functioning of Dramapur-Sirlim village panchayat has virtually come to a halt since the village was brought under the rule of the Administrator following the ouster of the sarpanch and the deputy sarpanch.
The Administrator appointed by the Salcete Block Development Office upon orders of the Panchayat Director has miserably failed to bring any semblance of administration in the panchayat body. Since his appointment on August 30, the Administrator has made his presence in the Panchayat only on Monday, raising questions over the in ordinate delay by the Panchayat Director to hold elections and fill the vacant post of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch.
That’s not all. The Administrator is believed to have made it clear to the elected panch members that he would visit the panchayat only twice a week. What has agitated the minds of the panch members is that the Administrator has maintained that he cannot sign or issue divergence certificates, leaving those in need of such certificates to wait for the new sarpanch to take over the reigns.
Making matters worse for the villagers of Dramapur and Sirlim is the fact that the panchayat secretary also makes his presence felt in the panchayat only twice a week, since he is holding additional charge of another panchayat body.
Opposition panch members have demanded to know why there’s a delay from the office of the Panchayat Director to hold early elections to the vacant post of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch.
“Administration has come to a halt. The Administrator was appointed on August 30, but he visited the panchayat only on September 16.
