Assonora locals grill p’yat over fund use, tree cutting & defunct CCTV cameras

Residents accused the panchayat of providing evasive replies, while newly elected Sarpanch Nita Naik remained largely silent throughout the discussions.

Local resident Vijay Benaulikar questioned the panchayat’s decision to cut several large trees, including a mango and a sandalwood tree, without clarity on the revenue earned from the timber.

“The panchayat claims it spent money to cut the trees, but they are not revealing what they have done with the timber or whether any revenue was generated,” Benaulikar said. He further pointed out that while permission had been granted for cutting five trees, nearly seven were felled.

Benaulikar also raised doubts over the panchayat’s claim of spending Rs 80,000 on desilting wells, alleging that payments were made to labourers for tree-cutting work without maintaining proper records. He accused the panchayat of “misappropriation of funds” in relation to the well-cleaning 

works.

Another villager, Sasha D’Souza, highlighted the growing concern over rising crime in the area and slammed the panchayat for failing to maintain the solar-powered CCTV cameras installed a few years ago.

According to D’Souza, of the 12“13 cameras installed earlier, nearly half were non-functional.

“This issue has been raised repeatedly for several years, but nothing concrete has come out. Each time, we only get excuses,” she said.

Responding to concerns, the panchayat secretary informed the gram sabha that eight new CCTV cameras had recently been installed at a cost of Rs 3.70 lakh.

However, D’Souza insisted that functioning surveillance is essential.

“With crimes rising in the State, CCTV cameras are crucial. We never know which house may be targeted next,” she said.

Villagers demanded greater transparency, stricter adherence to procedures, and clear explanations from the panchayat on expenditure and work execution.