MARGAO
The controversial Western bypass figured at the meeting of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat on Friday, with the body adopting a resolution demanding construction of the bypass passing through the flood plains of River Sal in Salcete on stilts.
The Zilla Panchayat meeting chaired by Chairperson Navnath Naik saw Benaulim ZP member Maria Rebello forcefully raising the issue of the Western bypass, fearing inundation of the low-lying villages of Benaulim if the bypass is not built on stilts.
The Zilla Panchayat also complimented Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for sanctioning development grants to the district panchayat body and wished him speedy recovery. Member Deepak Naik said that each of the 25 South Goa Zilla Panchayat members will now get a development grant of Rs 50 lakh in their constituency, thanks to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho for honouring their promise.
Chairperson Navnath Naik also constituted team of ZP members to identity suitable place to build a Zilla Panchayat bhavan of its own, even as the chairperson said that work on the renovation of the ZP office in the old South Goa collectorate is presently underway. Curtorim ZP member Moreno Rebello told the members that he would explore the possibility of procuring land on the Davorlim-Areal border for building the ZP bhavan. Chairperson Navnath informed that the office in the Old Collectorate building will be ready for inauguration within two months.
The Curtorim ZP member also demanded to know why the government has neglected opposition represented Assembly constituencies, saying the water, electricity and roads are being ignored.
The meeting also discussed on the illegal stone quarrying in Shiroda constituency bordering Dharbandora, with the ZP member saying the illegal quarrying has silted the adjoining water body.
ZP seeks increase in outlay on procurement of sports goods
MARGAO: Elected representatives apparently feel the heat to provide sports goods to their constituents with the Indian Super League (ISL) catching up with the youngsters with each passing season.
So much so, members of the South Goa Zilla Panchayats have called upon the government to increase the outlay on procurement of sports goods to meet the requirements of the younger generation.
While the Zilla Panchayat has earmarked an annual grant of Rs 50,000 for sports goods procurement in every ZP constituency, members felt the outlay is too meager an amount considering the increasing cost of sports goods and demand from the youngsters. Curtorim ZP member Moreno Rebello and Navelim ZP Cipru Cardozo pointed out that a football cost around Rs 800-900, with the longevity of a football pegged around a month or two. “With Rs 50,000 annual sports budget for each constituency, we are hard pressed to make available sports goods to the youngsters,” Moreno cried, while making a strong case for an hike in the outlay for sports.
Chairperson Navnath Naik and CEO Pandarinath Naik assured to write to the government for a hike in the grant for sports budget.
