MARGAO
The gram sabha of Carmona panchayat on Sunday has resolved to stop collection of garbage fees from the new financial year 2022-23.
Instead, the gram sabha has told the panchayat to utilise the Rs 7 lakh grants from the government and under the 15th Financial Commission to meet the expenditure on garbage management.
At a meeting chaired by Sarpanch Sandra Fernandes and attended by newly-elected MLA Venzy Viegas, it was pointed out by gram sabha member and ex-Sarpanch Allwyn Jorge that the panchayat is entitled for Rs 7 lakh grants from the government. He, however, said the panchayat has not received a single rupee as grant from the government.
After much discussions, the ex-sarpanch demanded and it was resolved that the garbage collection fees from the villagers should be stopped from next year and grants from the government and under the XVth Finance funds should be used for the purpose.
The Zalor Beach issue also took centrestage with the gram sabha resolving to constitute a committee to file a case in the High Court. Incidentally, when a gram sabha member said that he had handed over the beach case file to the ex-Sarpanch, Allwyn who is on leave refuted that no such file has been handed over to him by the person concerned and asked the panchayat to write to the MLA, Venzy Viegas to take up the matter with the Revenue Department to re-demarcate the boundaries of Carmona and Varca as per previous directions of the High Court to the government on the issue of redrawing of boundaries of villages.
The meeting witnessed heat over the road being built by the government along river Sal under Carmona jurisdiction in CRZ area. Members pointed out that since the road is being built to benefit a person wielding political influence, others said the government should take up all the damaged bunds in the area.
Sarpanch Sandra informed that the panchayat has resolved to stop levying garbage collection fees from the villagers from the new financial year. “We will discuss the matter and see how the government funds and the grants could be utilised for garbage management,” she added.
