CURCHOREM
The Betul panchayat's refusal to issue show-cause notices to parties involved in organising the DefExpo at Quittol prompted four members of Orixtt Porjecho Awaz (OPA) to go on an indefinite hunger strike at Betul Panchayat office on Friday.
Betul Sarpanch Krishna Sawant Dessai has, however, insisted that he would consider a show-cause notice to the DefExpo organisers only after obtaining the advice of BDO and Director of Panchayat in the matter.
Furious with the panchayat for ignoring a gram sabha resolution, OPA members, Charles D'Silva, Alina Lorenco, Nilia Noronha and Damasco D'Silva started their hunger strike.
“In the last Gram Sabha, it was unanimously resolved to issue show-cause notices to GIDC Goa, Secretary of Industries Goa, Director of DefExpo exhibition organisation and Pavilions and Interiors Pvt Ltd for not taking permissions from the Betul Panchayat,” said Charles D'Silva, while speaking to The Goan.
“The sarpanch has sent letters to the parties involved in setting up DefExpo at Betul to stop the work, but what is stopping the sarpanch from issuing show-cause notices to these parties,” asked D'Silva.
“As per the Panchayat Raj Act, the panchayat has powers to stop and issue show-cause notices to any illegal activity in its jurisdiction. We are asking the Betul sarpanch to issue show-cause notice to the parties concerned and till then, we will not give up our hunger strike,” he added.
When contacted, Betul Sarpanch Krishna Sawant Dessai said he had told the Gram Sabha that he would need to consult higher authorities before taking a decision on issuing show-cause notices to those involved in the DefExpo.
“However, the Gram Sabha members unanimously took the resolution in the matter,” said Dessai.
“Some people who went on hunger strike were demanding the panchayat to immediately issue a show-cause notice to the DefExpo Director, GIDC-Goa and Secretary of Industries and others.
But before doing it, I wanted to consult my higher officials,” said the sarpanch.
“I had sent letters to the BDO and Director of Panchayat seeking their advice on the issue. I will take decision based on the reply I get from the Director of Panchayat and Block Development Officer. Till then, I will not send any show-cause notice,” clarified Dessai.
