MARGAO
A day after the election of new Panchayat members, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday sent out a stern message to the newly-elected members that they should not seek revenge and stop NOCs for business establishments, more so along the coastal belt.
Sawant also did not agree to a suggestion that the Panchayat bodies in Goa are in need of additional powers, even going to the extent of saying the Panchayat has enough powers, which has been in the past, used even to stop a toilet proposed by the government.
Speaking to the media at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on the side-lines of two-day AUGUSTCON 2022 on Ayurveda on Saturday, he said the newly-elected panchas should focus on zero corruption and fast governance to usher in fast track development of the villages and the State.
While welcoming the newly-elected members and hoping they will cooperate with the government, the Chief Minister said the new Panchayat bodies should not stop businesses, especially along the state’s coastal belt. “During my three years stint as Chief Minister, I have received complaints of Panch members and Panchayats seeking revenge against individuals by not issuing the NOCs or delays in giving the permissions. I appeal to the Panch members and the Panchayats they should not take revenge and stop the business permissions. I am not making any allegations. I had come across complaints of harassment during my three year stint as CM”, he said.
The Chief Minister urged the newly-elected members to work for zero corruption and fast track development to usher in the development of the villages.
When the media drew attention of the Chief Minister that powers envisaged under the 73rd Amendment have not been devolved to the Panchayats and Zilla panchayats, Sawant shot back saying the Panchayat has enough powers. “Even when the government had mooted a toilet in a panchayat, it was blocked by the Panchayat. This only goes to show who is enjoying more powers, the government or the Panchayats”, he said.
When asked to comment on the government overruling the decisions of the Panchayat bodies, the Chief Minister said the government does not overrule the panchayat’s decision, but the authorities created under the Act only take up the issues on appeal. “The government does not do anything illegal.
Whenever a decision is taken by the Panchayat, the appeal lies with the Director of Panchayats. They take the decision as per the law and the rules in force”, he said, adding there’s no question of the government overruling the decisions of the Panchayat.
