the goan I network
MARGAO
Why is the Carmona village panchayat facing discrimination when it comes to allocation of government grants to implement the solid waste management programme in the village?
This question has come to the fore as the neighbouring coastal villages of Cavelossim, Benaulim and Varca are eligible for Rs seven lakh and Orlim village Rs five lakh grant.
Carmona panchayat has had to remain content with only with Rs two lakh garbage grant, which the local body says is not only inadequate to meet the requirements, but is discriminatory in nature.
In fact, the Carmona panchayat has knocked the doors of the Director of Panchayats to rectify the anomaly in the disbursement of garbage grants for the village. In the letter addressed to the Panchayat Director, Sarpanch Allwyn Jorge pointed out that Carmona has been left out in the notification despite being a coastal village of Benaulim constituency and despite having a weekly market.
Referring to Clause 3 of the notification, which states that all panchayats in the coastal belt having tourism potential are eligible for additional financial assistance of five lakh each per annum, in addition to the grants as per clause 9(1), the Sarpanch pointed out that Carmona village is eligible for additional grants as the village has a weekly market under Clause 5 of the notification.
“The village has been working hard at garbage management and availability of funds has been a major constraint. Carmona village is bearing the brunt of tourism concentrated in neighbouring villages as garbage is disposed of in the village given that the MDR passes through Carmona,” the sarpanch said.
Allwyn demanded to know how come Carmona despite being a coastal village is allotted only Rs two lakh while neighbouring villages of Cavelossim and Orlim are sanctioned Rs 7 lakh and Rs five lakh respectively.
The sarpanch said the panchayat will forward the letters addressed to the Panchayat Director to Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho and Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao for necessary action.
