CM to take call on octroi to Loliem-Polem panchayat

Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Sachin Naik along with ex-sarpanch Ajit (Ajay) Lolienkar submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the presence of Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes at Porvorim.

CANACONA

Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Sachin Naik has said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured to take a decision on resuming octroi from petrol pumps to the Loliem-Polem panchayat.

Naik said the chief minister made the assurance when he along with ex-sarpanch Ajit (Ajay) Lolienkar submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the presence of Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes at Porvorim.

“Since 2018-19, the government has failed to disburse octroi pertaining to the operation of three petrol pumps in the village to the Loliem-Polem panchayat. This halt in octroi worth about Rs 45 lakh from the three petrol pumps in our village has caused serious financial crunch to take up development works.”

“This octroi alone enabled the Loliem-Polem panchayat to be the richest among the seven panchayats in Canacona Taluka,” said Naik.

The sarpanch said the chief minister was also apprised of former chief minister late Manohar Parrikar's assurance to resolve the panchayat;s grievance regarding octroi, but it had remained unresolved till date.

“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured to look into the matter favourably as octroi makes up a significant portion of income to the Loliem-Polem panchayat and moreover, some key development works depend on funds generated from octroi,” he said.