the goan I network
MAPUSA
The blatant change of surnames in the State found echo in the Colvale gram sabha on Sunday.
Calling for inquiry in the matter, villagers also urged the pancahayat to stop issuing caste certificate before conducting a proper verification.
Raising the issue of change in surname, a gram sabha member said migrants residing on rent have adopted local surnames with the intention of availing facilities of the State government.
“There is a need to conduct a detailed inquiry on change of surnames in the State,” said Chandan Chodankar and further requested the panchayat not to issue any caste certificate without proper verification.
Colvale Sarpanch Nityanand Kandolkar informed the gram sabha members that Bardez mamlatdar was conducting a survey on the issue of migrants.
“Once the report is ready we will request them to share it with the panchayat,” Kandolkar said.
Another gram sabha member inquired the status of notices issued against illegal houses in the village.
The sarpanch informed that panchayat had filed cases against 26 illegal houses and the court had directed the authorities concerned to take appropriate action in the matter.
“Demolition notices were also issued to the house owners,” Kandolkar said.
Chandan Chodankar said that there were 200 illegal houses in the village and questioned why action was sought to be taken only on 26 houses.
Choosing to blame the earlier panchayat body, the sarpanch said the cases were filed by the
previous panchayat body and some of these were still in the courts.
The villagers also demanded that those families who suffered due to the recent floods should be compensated through the panchayat.
