Team Herald
MARGAO: The two newly-elected ZP members are right on time to get the funds allotted for works in their constituencies. Even though the works have already been recommended by their predecessors, they at least will be able to select which works should be taken up on priority.
The State government has already sanctioned Rs 2.95 crores to the South Goa Zilla Panchayat. However, due to the code of conduct being in force, first for the panchayat elections and now for the ZP and Assembly by-elections, the works could not be tendered. The South Goa Zilla Panchayat has informally adopted a system wherein the total funds are distributed to undertake works in all the 25 ZP constituencies and each ZP member is asked to select the works to be taken up in his or her constituency.
In other Zilla Panchayats across the country it is the Adhayaksha who decides which works should be taken up and therefore has a say where the funds will be utilised. The technical section has already prepared the estimates of the various works recommended by the ZP members and the same will now be tendered the moment the code of conduct lapses.
During the last financial year the government had allotted Rs 9.75 crores to the South Goa Zilla Panchayat and works like constructing pavements, drains, retaining walls, small roads were taken up.
The Zilla Panchayat members can also fund installation of CCTV cameras in their constituencies revealed the Chief Executive Officer Krishna Signapurkar
While generally the ZP meeting is held once in two months, the last meeting of South Goa Zilla Panchayat was not held due to the code of conduct and is likely to be held in the month of September where the works to be taken up will also be decided.
