VASCO
Quelossim panchayat, which was recently bifurcated from the Cortalim panchayat, has been accused of continuing to operate from the Cortlaim panchayat, despite being provided premises of its own.
The Quelossim sarpanch operates from the Cortalim panchayat and is unwilling to shift to their new premises," complained Cortalim Sarpanch Senia Pereira, at a news conference on Saturday.
Pereira informed that a joint meeting took place between the sarpanchas and deputy sarpanchas of both panchayats along with Asha Mesta, the secretary of both panchayats, in the Cortalim panchayat premises on September 25.
"The meeting took place in the presence of Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, Director of Panchayats Sandhya Kamat, Dy Director of Panchayat (South) Snehal Prabhu and it lasted for three hours to finalise important points to be made regarding shifting of Quelossim Panchayat.
"The presence of the Quelossim sarpanch at Cortalim created chaos as people from both villages come here and multiple records for outward and inward have to be maintained. This puts a lot of pressure on the staff and secretary to handle both panchayat," said Pereira.
"Although Quelossim Panchayat had fought for bifurcation from Cortalim panchayat, they are not willing to shift, thus causing injustice to people of both villages. The Quelossim Panchayat was allotted a separate premise by PWD near St Anne's Convent School at Quelossim," Pereira added. "Cortalim Panchayat had also agreed to give one experienced clerk to Quelossim Panchayat and a decision of sharing the same secretary was also made, to ensure that the secretary would attend to Cortalim Panchayat, which caters to 9000 people for four days, and two days for Quelossim panchayat which caters to 3000 people."
"We have even decided to share a revenue of around Rs 24.64 lakhs with the newly-formed Quelossim Panchayat, thereby being the first panchayat in Goa to share revenue with a new bifurcated panchayat," Pereira added.
Quelossim sarpanch hits back
VASCO: Responding to allegations by the Cortalim panchayat, the Quelossim Sarpanch Maria Sousa said they were awaiting written directions from Panchayat to shift to the new premises.
"If we could have shifted without directions, we would have shifted long back," hit back Souza.
Quelossim Deputy Sarpanch Sebastian Serrao said Quelossim Panchayat did not need examples of other panchayats which started with a zero balance, adding that the revenue received from Cortalim Panchayat was only revenue collected from Quelossim areas. "We cannot take any resolution till we get written orders to shift," said Serrao.
