MARGAO
Gram sabha members of Chinchinim village panchayat on Sunday lamented that the panchayat has not received the draft Agricultural policy to place the same for discussions at the meeting.
The gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Valentino Barretto, however, has decided to seek inputs to the draft Agricultural policy from the village farmers clubs and agriculturists. When the issue had come up before the gram sabha, the sarpanch admitted that the panchayat had no base from where it can start the interactive session with the farmers.
The sarpanch, however, assured the members and the farmers that the panchayat would call members of the farmers clubs and the agriculturists to give their inputs which will be later compiled and forwarded to the government for incorporation in the policy.
The issue of Aadhaar Cards and EPIC cards issued by the authorities to anyone staying in the village, even on a temporary basis, came up for discussions.
Members have cautioned the villagers not to give NOCs to the people who are temporarily staying in the village, but are anxious to get Aadhaar and EPIC cards. They cited an instance wherein a person nabbed in a drugs case had obtained his Aadhaar card around 20 years ago when he was temporarily staying in the village.
The audit report also came up for discussion at the gram sabha. While the audit report had pointed out a total of 123 illegal cases pending before various forums and the courts, the sarpanch told the members that only 25 cases are presently pending before the courts. The members have demanded that matters pending in the courts, mostly with the panchayat authorities, should be expeditiously disposed of.
The issue of construction of the Panchayat ghar on the panchayat acquired grounds once again came up for discussion. When members sought to know the status of the long-delayed project, Sarpanch Valentino pointed out that the project has received the nod from the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation. He, however, hastened that the commencement of the project would depend on the available of funds, to the tune of Rs 13.6 crore.
Members also demanded the beautification of the Deussua bypass road with CCTV surveillance cameras since the road has become the dumping ground for waste. Since the project will entail huge cost, the gram sabha has resolved to request the Tourism department to take up the project.
