OLD GOA
Raising the issue, a resident named Vaz pointed out that since the past many years the only answer given is that the case is in the arguments stage, which shows that the panchayat advocate is not doing his job properly.
Another villager, Tukaram Kunkolkar, then informed that the Regional Plan forms the basis of the Merces panchayat, which cannot be accepted as it has been rejected. “I think the advocate is just buying time and should be immediately replaced,” Kunkolkar added.
The Chimbel panchayat was also taken to task for sending a notice to the Merces panchayat to act against its own panch for installing a mobile phone tower without permission. “The house of the panch falls within the jurisdiction of Chimbel and by asking Merces panchayat to act, our panchayat is surrendering its rights on the areas governed by it,” Kunkolkar opined and asked the panchayat to write to the authorities concerned to act against the panch.
The constant change of sarpanch was also hotly debated with Govind Shirodkar stating that such games for power hamper the development of the village. “When a
new sarpanch takes over, he/she blames the earlier sarpanch and there is no accountability,” he added while stating that it also leads to mushrooming of illegalities in the village.
Another issue which took centrestage was the laying of optic fibre cables by a telecommunications company without paying any fee to the panchayat.
“The same company has paid huge amount while laying cables in other areas, then why not in Chimbel?” questioned Shirodkar and added lax attitude of the panchayat has resulted in loss of revenue.
Shirodkar further moved a resolution asking the panchayat to file an FIR against the company with the Old Goa Police and take steps to recover the fees.
The issue of demonetization was also raised with Tukaram Kunkolkar stating that it is a good step by the prime minister to recover black money. “However, the common man has suffered,” he said and urged the panchayat to write to the SBI to send its mobile ATM van to Chimbel so that the people could use the same to withdraw cash.
Kunkolkar further said the next step now should be to take on the land mafia. “In Chimbel, there is a land mafia operating which is buying properties worth crores of rupees but on paper they are showing less amount to escape paying tax,” he added and informed that it is now time for the government to target such mafia.
