the goan I network
MARGAO
The Curtorim gram sabha on Sunday has resolved to ask the government to drop the road passing through the market area of the village, which has been shown as the Major District Road (MDR) in the Regional Plan 2021 and instead mark the road as a village road.
The gram sabha meeting chaired by Sarpanch Rui Menezes, which saw thin attendance of the gram sabha members, further resolved to show all the village roads as six meters and not 10 meters as approved by the Town and Country Planning (TCP).
The demand to denotify the market road from MDR to village road assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of the successful agitation by the neighbouring village of Chandor against the State Highway passing through the village.
Gram sabha members pointed out that the MDR passing through the congested market will not serve any purpose and should be shown as a village road.
They pointed out that though the gram sabha members and the village level committee which was constituted to take decisions on RP 2021 had made certain recommendations, none of the recommendations had found favour with the TCP.
The issue over the thin attendance of members for the gram sabha also figured at the meeting, with member Charles Barretto calling upon the Sarpanch to streamline the announcement mechanism.
He pointed out that the propaganda vehicle should have microphones and should make the announcements at locations which would help convey the message of the meeting.
The utilisation of the 14th Finance Commission grants also figured at the meeting. While former deputy Sarpanch J Santan Rodrigues made a suggestion to the Chair to take up the government primary schools and anganwadis for maintenance under the scheme, member Charles Barretto, however, said that since the government has earmarked funds for repairs and maintenance of government schools, funds received under the 14th Finance Commission should be spent on the village infrastructure.
Member Santan Rodrigues further demanded to know from the Chair whether the government has taken any decision regarding the objections and suggestions invited to decide on the Any Other Business matter in the gram sabha agenda.
While the panchayat secretary Faldessai Faterpekar was ambivalent in his stand, Sarpanch Rui Menezes assured the members that he would find out the exact status from the Director of Panchayats.
