Team Herald
PONDA: Video recording of gram sabha proceedings did not deter Usgao villagers from going vociferous against the panchayat on Sunday for its failure to revoke the NOC granted for an extension project of MRF factory at Tisk.
The proceedings were video recorded on Sunday as per the amendment to the Panchayat Raj Act.
The villagers were angry that the panchayat had not revoked the NOC to MRF despite the villagers passing a resolution to that effect at a previous gram sabha. Besides, the villagers are also demanding abolition of the contract system by MRF, which, the villager allege, is an exploitation of workers.
Locals had come prepared to grill the panchas but could not do so as only two of eleven members attended the meeting. Locals suspect that the panchas deliberately skipped the meeting fearing tough questioning by villagers over the NOC issue.
Sarpanch William Mascaranhas said that the panhayat issued the NOC to MRF project based on documents furnished by the company. He said that the company has promised to honour the conditions of the panchayat to provide jobs to locals and take up some development works.
