Team Herald
MARGAO: Even though it was touted as probably the second last meeting of the present Zilla Panchayat, members wasted the time in discussing trivial matters and fooling around with each other. Incidentally Antonio Vas representing Cortalim and Gilbert Rodrigues representing Sancoale were absent for the meeting,
For example Babita Gaonkar representing Betqui Candola arrived late for the meeting and besides quipping that Rs 1 crore will be spent on setting up a new sugar factory spent most of the time having private conversation with Meenaxi Gaonkar who was seated next to her.
While some appreciated the training imparted by GIPART to the ZP members explaining the role and importance of the organisation it was discussed casually and nobody even bothered to ask why such training was held at the fag-end of the term of the members. Jaideep Shirodkar representing Shiroda constituency while demanding that a pharma or food industry in the around 1.81 lakh sq mts of land acquired at Shiroda jocularly said that there is a fear that the area may be used to set up a housing board colony.
And while everybody is asking for underground cabling of the electricity conductors Moreno Rebello representing Curtorim constituency said that the tender of Rs. 43 crore for overhead cabling in his constituency should be taken up immediately. Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes admitted that Moreno had asked for overhead cabling.
On a serious note, it was decided to publish a souvenir listing out all the works carried out by the zilla panchayat in each constituency and members were requested to expeditiously give the necessary details so that the souvenir could be published before the term of the present expires in another three months.
Chairman Navnath Naik assured Moreno Rebello that they have already written to the Panchayat Director asking for necessary amendment in the Panchayat Raj Act to enable ZP members to participate in Gram Sabhas of the villages in his or her constituency.
“At the training session held recently, we have also suggested that ZP member be named as co-opted members of the gram sabhas coming under their constituency,” he said. It may be recalled that Moreno has been raising this issue since he was called an “outsider” at a gram sabha in a village in his constituency.
The members asked that tenders for all works be issued as soon as possible so that they can utilize all the funds and they pointed out that the amount saved when tenders are quoted below the estimated cost is not reflected as savings and further utilised. The chairman assured that work orders will be issue so that no funds are returned to the government for non utilization and said that the four officials appointed to prepare the tenders will do their work well in time.
Dipak Borkar representing Borim demanded that a KTC bus be started on the Ponda to Dabal route going via Bethora and Nirankal to benefit the student as presently they reach home at around 4:30 pm even though their classes get over at 1:30 pm.
All affected representatives strongly objected to classifying areas as eco-sensitive zones particularly the forest land where there are people residing which discussion was initiated by Govind Gaonkar representing Dharbandora.
Nelly Rodrigues’ demand to change the web site manager as the site was full of mistakes which have not been corrected despite repeated reminders was accepted by all members and the chairperson immediately named one of ZP staff to look after the web site henceforth.
That the ZP officials listen to the contractors rather than elected members, reservation of 30 per cent of the plots in housing board to locals, spiraling cost of vegetables, parking space for ZP at old collectorate building were other issues discussed at the meeting.
