the goan I network
MARGAO
The Zilla Panchayats might have been denied powers, functions and funds envisaged under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, defeating the objective behind the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
That, however, did not deter the elected Zilla Panchayat members from adopting host of resolutions at the Zilla Panchayat meetings throughout the five-year term.
In fact, there was no dearth of resolutions adopted by the South Goa Zilla Panchayat body during the last five years, notwithstanding that majority of the resolutions had no bearing on the government nor on other institutions.
A glance at the statistics has revealed that the South Goa Zilla Panchayat had adopted a whopping 576 resolutions at the 22 meetings the Zilla Panchayat had between 2015 till the end of the current term.
Take note, these 576 resolutions were not only related to the development proposals, but ranging from seeking powers, functions and funds to demanding passes for the ISL matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium at Fatorda.
Sources in the know say that of the 576 resolutions adopted by the South Goa Zilla Panchayat at the 22 meetings held during the last five years, the issue over the devolution of powers, functions and funds had figured at almost every meeting of the district panchayat body.
Public issues ranging from Mopa airport to coal transportation, to revival of mining activities had all figured at the Zilla Panchayat meetings during the current term. In fact, the South Goa Zilla Panchayat had adopted a resolution for the early start of the mining activities, which was later sent to the Centre for consideration.
The burning garbage issue plaguing Sonsodo too had figured at the Zilla Panchayat meetings.
There were resolutions too on demanding that the Zilla Panchayats attend the meetings of the Panchayat gram sabhas a la the MLAs representing the particular area. And, not to mention the resolution demanding protocol for the Zilla chairperson as well as for the members at State official functions and programmes.
At one of the meetings, a resolution was adopted to allot minimum annul development grant of Rs 50 lakh for every Zilla member to execute development in their respective constituencies.
And, there were resolutions condoling the death of political figures as the members remembered former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar as well as former Santa Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes.
Sadly, while resolutions were galore at the Zilla Panchayats, non-implementation of most of the resolutions had come into question at almost every meeting, with ZP officials pushing the buck on the government departments for not giving effect to the decisions.
