the goan I network
MARGAO
In a bid to cap the garbage menace in the village, the Sao Jose de Areal panchayat has decided to impose a fine of Rs 5000 on violators of the solid waste management rules, with a provision to reward any informer with a cash amount of Rs 950.
The gram sabha also discussed on a host of issues, including the audit report, scrapyards, NOCs issued to start business units etc.
Areal Sarpanch Vincy Mascarenhas, who chaired the meeting, told the gram sabha members that the panchayat will also take up an awareness program in the village to keep the violators at bay.
When members raised the issue of garbage problem facing the village, the Sarpanch pointed out that the panchayat has already taken a decision to impose a fine of Rs 5000 on the violators and to pay an amount of Rs 950 out of the fine to any informer, who comes with documentary evidence against a violator.
Gram sabha members also raised the contentious issue of scrapyards in the village and the failure of the Panchayat to remove these despite the fact that the courts had passed the orders against nine
yards in 2018.
Sarpanch Vincy Mascarenhas explained the members that the panchayat had in the past dispatched a proposal to the BDO office to initiate action against the scrapyards based on the court order, but the proposals had come back to the panchayat office.
He, however, said that after taking over office two months ago, the panchayat has once again sent the demolition proposal to the BDO for action.
Gram sabha members claimed that the audit report tabled by the panchayat body is flawed with several discrepancies in respect of the 13 th & 14 th Finance Commission reports. A lot of time was involved during discussions on the subject with members demanding that the panchayat rectify the discrepancies.
Members also took strong objection to the NOCs issued by the panchayat body to open business outlets in the village. Members claimed that NOCs have been issued by the panchayat body in the past without verifying the location of the structures, alleging that these NOCs were misused by the holders.
The members demanded revocation of the NOCs issued in the past and to keep on hold any new proposals.
