the goan I network
MAPUSA
The Block Development Officer (BDO), Bardez made a surprise visit to the Calangute Panchayat on Friday and was huddled in the panchayat office for more than 12 hours, inspecting records and scrutinising books in the panchayat.
BDO Krishnakant Pangam along with some staff of the department entered the panchayat office at around 10 am and were going through various books and analyzing records well past 10 in the night.
Calangute Panchayat Secretary Raghuvir Bhagkar was asked to remain present during the whole inspection in the panchayat.
Calangute Sarpanch Shawn Martins was also questioned on several issues and works undertaken by the panchayat.
Sources said the BDO’s inspection team has taken in their possession five trunks of material from the panchayat.
The same sources informed that five to eight receipt books had gone missing and the BDO grilled some panchayat staff on the issue.
When contacted, Director of Panchayat Ajit Panchwadkar first hesitated to speak on the issue, but later admitted it was a routine inquiry.
“It’s a routine inquiry. The BDO was directed to take possession of the files in relation to some allegations of misappropriation of funds of Rs 47 lakh,” Panchwadkar said.
However, sources told The Goan that there were several complaints before the BDO and the director of panchayat against various works and activities carried out by the present panchayat.
There were complaints that works were being carried out throwing caution to the wind without following proper procedures.
The Director of Panchayat Ajit Panchwadkar’s visit to the Block Development Office in Mapusa on August 3, where he was huddled with the BDO for more than an hour, assumes significance vis-Ã -vis the Friday’s inspection in the panchayat.
The BDO’s inspection team was provided police security throughout the day until the inspection was over.
Sources in the panchayat informed that the staff’s movement was restricted and no one was allowed to enter the sarpanch’s cabin throughout the day during the inspection.
Martins said that the inspection was in relation to the complaint filed by the panchayat secretary on fraud of around Rs 47 lakh during the period of the previous panchayat.
“We are offering full cooperation to the officials conducting the inquiry. If they want to come again, they can do so,” Martins said.
It may be recalled Panchayat Secretary Raghuvir Bhagkar had filed a complaint against unknown persons with Calangute Police on missing of panchayat funds of Rs 47 lakh in April this year.
