the goan I network
MARGAO
Chaired by sarpanch Sofia Rebello and attended by around 20 members, the gram sabha also passed a resolution to renovate the panchayat premises with funds from the 14th Finance Commission.
Deputy sarpanch Tyron Fernandes told The Goan that the panchayat had placed before the gram sabha a surplus budget of Rs 33 lakh, which was approved at the meeting held on Sunday.
The meeting discussed on the funds received under the 14th Finance Commission, which has not been utilised by the panchayat for want of estimates prepared by the Salcete Block Development Office.
The deputy sarpanch informed that Ambelim panchayat had received around Rs 2.71 lakh funds under the 14th Finance Commission which has remained unused for want of the estimates from the BDO office.
“The BDO office has asked the panchayat body to submit the utilisation certificate of the funds, but the ground reality shows that the panchayat could not utilise the funds as the BDO office could not prepare the estimates for the words proposed by the Panchayat body,”
he said.
Tyron pointed out that the panchayat intends to spend the fresh grants received by the panchayat body amounting to Rs three lakh under the 14th Finance Commission to give a new look to the panchayat ghar.
Replying to a question, the deputy sarpanch said Sunday’s gram sabha may turn out the last gram sabha of Ambelim Panchayat during the current term with the elections scheduled around May.
“I feel Sunday’s was the last gram sabha of the term. We still have three months to go for the panchayat poll and this gram sabha may be the last taking into account the election code of conduct that may come into force in April,” Tyron added.
