TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Goa government Wednesday admitted that several Panchayats that were given Rs 10 lakh fund each, during the Golden Jubilee of Goa Liberation, were not using it for desired purpose.
Panchayat Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told State Legislative Assembly Session, “The funds were actually given so that the villages can create infrastructure, but several panchayats interpreted the government guidelines as per their convenience.”
The revelation came after government’s own MLA from St Andre constituency Vishnu Surya Wagh pointed out that an illegal compound wall was constructed in his village panchayat with government taking no action.
Wagh alleged that panchayats, which are licensing authorities, bypass mandatory permissions to carry out illegal constructions in their respective areas and cited the example of his own panchayat. “This panchayat (St Andre) did not take Town and Country NOC, or any required permissions,” he alleged on the floor of the House, demanding strict action against the Sarpanch.
The minister admitted the construction under this scheme completed by St Andre Village Panchayat was illegal. The panchayat, he said, had spent Rs 6.06 lakh on the construction, of which Rs 2.54 lakh were from the golden jubilee fund and Rs 3.52 lakh from village panchayat fund.
In an attempt to rectify the mistake, he gave an assurance that he would issue a circular through Directorate of Panchayats to instruct all Panchayats to complete necessary formalities before taking up any construction activity, even if it falls within their jurisdiction.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar intervening in the discussion though briefly said the State government can recover the money from concerned Sarpanch, who had allowed the construction, if the construction is illegal.
“Sarpanch should have handled the issue properly. We need to be strict on such matters (illegal constructions by panchayats),” Parsekar commented, but refused to give any assurance to take action against the sarpanch.
Wagh once again intervened, claiming the money used for illegal compound wall, could have very well been used to clean the St Andre market and other purposes.
