MARGAO, NOV 28
Uproar marked the gram sabha of Dramapur-Sirlim after some members produced a CD at the meeting allegedly showing the involvement of an elected member demanding money from hawkers.
While members led by Wilson Viegas demanded that the Sarpanch Seby Fernandes show the CD on a laptop for the information of the gram sabha members, the Sarpanch firmly turned down the request.
On the contrary, the Sarpanch told Wilson to lodge a complaint with the concerned authorities, including the Police, Director of Panchayats, Deputy Director of Panchayats and the BDO if he has any evidence regarding the involvement of the panch member in the alleged racket.
The members, however, were vociferous in their demand to play the CD at the meeting and some of the members later constituted a five-member committee to go through the CD.
Sarpanch Seby told Herald that though some of the gram sabha members have formed the committee, the final decision will rest with the Panchayat body over the matter.
The gram sabha members also discussed on the presence of traffic police and police personnel on the highway at Sirlim-Dramapur causing harassment to the villagers.
Members pointed out that they are forced to carry helmets even if they want to visit the Panchayat body or neighbours on the other side of the highway.
In this respect, the members pointed out that traffic or other police personnel are not found on the highway in Cuncolim due to the intervention of the elected representatives and demanded that the local MLA and Minister for Water Resources Filipe Neri Rodrigues be informed by the Panchayat body to take necessary action in the matter.
The construction of a drinking water well under the Zilla Panchayat funds also came up for discussions, after members pointed out that the well was constructed without NOC from the Panchayat body.
