the goan I network
MAPUSA
The Aldona Sarpanch, Francis D’Souza had to step back after locals strongly opposed the panchayat’s bid to hike garbage tax in the village.
The locals also picked holes in the village panchayat’s budget for the financial year 2020-21 due to which the gram sabha was “postponed” to Feb 16.
The village panchayat had moved a proposal to increase garbage tax since it had plans to expand the door-to-door waste collection in the village.
“Why should only the upright citizen bear the burden? The panchayat should mop up revenue by imposing fines against those who dump waste in open places,” said Teo D’Souza, a gram sabha member.
Several villagers questioned the rationale to tax honest citizens even as the panchayat had failed collect tax from people living in illegal houses and owning unlawful businesses.
“Why only honest tax payers should always bear the brunt? The panchayat should penalize those who dump garbage in fields and collect tax from illegal houses and businesses,” said Oldrin Pereira, another local.
When the budget papers were circulated in the gram sabha, the villagers pointed out various discrepancies in the budget and called for clarification from the sarpanch.
A local, Oldrin Pereira said the audit report was not presented and the budget papers that were distributed had no signature, date or even properly numbered.
“Is this a valid budget? And even if the gram sabha passes it, will the BDO approve it?” Pereira questioned.
Some locals slammed the sarpanch for failing to include in the agenda the proposal on new market moved by the management of the St Thomas Girls High School in the last extra-ordinary gram sabha.
The new market project is expected to come up on an area of around 6,000 sq mts of land at Goddar, opposite the St Thomas Girls High School in Aldona.
“The sarpanch had promised to include the proposal of the school management in the next gram sabha which is incidentally today. But he has failed to do so,” Pereira said.
Sensing the mood of the villagers, the sarpanch had no other option but to adjourn the gram sabha for the day.
“The gram sabha has not been adjourned. It has been decided to hold the same gram sabha on February 16 now to discuss on budget proposals and garbage tax hike,” Priyanka Pinto, a village panch member told The Goan.
