MAPUSA
After all the 33 village panchayats in Bardez failed to hold the mandatory gram sabha meetings in April, the Block Development Officer has issued an order directing the panchayats to hold the gram sabhas in May.
The secretaries of the village panchayats have been directed to comply with all the procedures as required under the rules to hold the gram sabha meetings.
It is mandatory for every village panchayat to hold a meeting of ordinary gram sabha on any Sunday of January, April, July and October every year as per the provision of section 5 (1) of the Goa Raj Panchayat Raj Act, 1994.
“It has been noticed that the sarpanchas have not conducted meetings of gram sabha of their respective village panchayats on any of the Sundays of April as per the Goa Raj Panchayat Raj Act,” said BDO Shivprasad Naik and directed them to hold the gram sabhas in May.
The BDO has also prepared a timeline requesting the panchayats to conduct the gram sabhas on allotted day and time.
The panchayats of Aldona, Assagao, Pilerne, Candolim, Camurlim, Assonora, Colvale, Guirim, Sangolda, Parra, Penha De France and Pirna have been directed to hold gram sabhas on May 15 at 10 am.
Similarly, the panchayats of Pomburpa, Saligao, Sirsaim, Verla-Canca, Tivim, Anjuna, Arpora-Nagoa, Bastora, Calangute and Salvador Do Mundo have to hold their gram sabhas on May 22.
The panchayats of Moira, Nachinola, Nerul, Oxel, Reis Magos, Revora, Siolim-Marna, Siolim-Sodiem, Socorro, Ucassaim-Paliem-Punola and Nadora have to conduct the gram sabha meetings on May 29.
The panchayat secretaries have been directed to comply with all procedures as required under the rules to hold the gram sabha meeting.
“A copy of the notice of gram sabha meeting should be submitted to the BDO office in advance to facilitate the appointment of observers for the meetings,” Naik said.
The elections to the panchayats in the State are due in May-June.
With the election schedule expected to be announced any moment, the decision to hold gram sabha meetings hangs in balance.
