OLD GOA
The Chimbel locals have demanded that the health centre be located in the village so that villagers could benefit from the same.
The demand was made at the special Gram Sabha which was held in the panchayat on Thursday, on the occasion of Republic Day. Currently, the Chimbel Primary Health Centre (PHC) functions from the BSNL Quarters at Bambolim.
The locals pointed out that in the absence of a health centre in the village, the locals have to go to Panaji health centre or Goa Medical College in Bambolim to avail treatment.
Sarpanch Sandesh Shirodkar, however, said the panchayat identified many premises so that the PHC could be set up on rental basis. “But the premises we have identified do not meet the criteria of the health officials due to which the PHC cannot be set up in the village,” Shirodkar informed.
The issue of paying monthly rent of Rs 17,000 for the PHC also cropped up, with questions being asked as to who would bear the burdens as the panchayat does not have the funding.
However, the locals informed that the panchayat should focus on recovering the huge tax arrears of Rs 60 lakh, which could then be utilised to pay rent for a health premises.
