MARGAO
Even though the government had asked panchayats to cancel gram sabhas scheduled on Sunday to discuss the controversial urban area status, the Benaulim Gram Sabha took up the issue for a different reason.
The matter was not included in the official agenda. However, members unanimously passed a resolution opposing the proposal to classify Benaulim as an urban area. They said the Panchayat had not received any communication from the Salcete Block Development Officer (BDO) seeking its comments on the proposal.
Speaking to the media later, Sarpanch Xavier Pereira said Benaulim was among the 56 villages listed in the 2020 notification proposing their reclassification as urban areas. However, he said the Panchayat had not received any correspondence from the Salcete BDO asking for its views.
“Members were concerned that the government could later include Benaulim as an urban area on the grounds that the Panchayat had not raised any objection. Therefore, the Gram Sabha resolved to oppose the proposal and directed the Panchayat to send its objection to the BDO for further action,” Pereira said.
