MARGAO
The budget estimates of the Assolna panchayat for the current financial year 2023-24 could not be approved at the Sunday gram sabha after members asked for the details of the expenditure incurred on development works.
At the adjourned gram sabha chaired by sarpanch Ivan Fernandes, members also raised a host of questions about issuing Enable House Numbers, demanding that the panchayat should also take cognisance of the provisions of Goa Panchayat Raj Act and not just go by the government circular on EHN numbers.
Since the members were demanding details on these two issues, the gram sabha members decided to adjourn the meeting to next Sunday to discuss and approve the budget estimates and to adopt a resolution on the EHN number issue.
When the budget estimates for the current year were placed for discussion, members raised queries on the expenditure made by the panchayat on the development works. They demanded to know the schedule of work and the expenditure incurred on them. Since no answer was forthcoming from the chair, members called for the adjournment of the budget issue to next Sunday.
Chairman of the Assolna Bio-diversity Management Committee, Fredrick Borges placed before the gram sabha a host of points and called upon the members to help protect the village's biodiversity.
In his written submission, Borges has alleged the destruction of agricultural fields or orchard land and water bodies by illegal construction.
With the growing population and rising temperature, Borges called for the protection of water bodies to eco-balance the village ecosystem by rejuvenating the water bodies.
With multiple structures mushrooming along the riverside, the bio-diversity chairman sought to know whether the panchayat is aware of the natural bodies i.e. the river Sal and whether it is safe and protected and whether any measures have been initiated by the panchayat to safeguard the river Sal due to pollution.
