MAPUSA
Failure in garbage collection services and the poor condition of internal roads dominated the gram sabha meeting held on Sunday in Assonora, with residents voicing strong dissatisfaction over civic issues.
Several locals complained that the garbage collector had failed to report regularly and lift waste from their houses. Residents demanded that the garbage tax be waived, stating that they were being charged despite the service not being provided.
Some members suggested that the panchayat could fund garbage collection through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds received by the panchayat.
Responding to the complaints, Sarpanch Nita Naik said that the panchayat was not receiving adequate funds from the government for waste management and, therefore, collection of garbage tax from residents was necessary.
She also clarified that the panchayat did not receive CSR funds directly, explaining that organisations undertaking works under CSR made payments directly to contractors.
The panchayat secretary informed the gram sabha that a QR code system would soon be introduced for every household to ensure accountability in door-to-door garbage collection.
Garbage is currently being collected once a week and the annual garbage tax was Rs 300 per household.
The issue of deteriorating internal roads was raised by local resident Sasha D’Souza, who highlighted the poor condition of roads in her ward and urged the panchayat to take up repairs on priority. Several other residents echoed similar concerns about the state of roads in their respective wards.
The gram sabha subsequently passed a resolution to undertake repair works of internal roads at the earliest.
In another decision, the panchayat resolved to test drinking water from all public and private wells in the village following complaints of possible contamination.
The lack of police presence during the gram sabha meeting was also questioned. D’Souza alleged that during the previous gram sabha, she was repeatedly heckled by another member while raising issues.
“Asking questions and highlighting issues affecting the village is the right of a gram sabha member, and no one can stop it,” she said.
Assuring members, the sarpanch said that police personnel would be called for the next gram sabha meeting to maintain law and order.
