MAPUSA
Former Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira created a flutter at Sunday’s gram sabha when he demanded the panchayat to take action against dumping of debris and an illegal construction in the fields in front of the church.
“Rampant illegal filling of land is going on in front of the church. A video doing the rounds clearly shows the vehicle number that is dumping the debris by the side of
the road. Why is the panchayat not filing a complaint at the police station?” Sequeira asked.
The former sarpanch also said that he has written a number of times to the panchayat about illegal filling of land in different parts of Calangute but no action was forthcoming.
He said despite daily police raids, illegalities were taking place round the clock in the village. “Almost every day there is a raid on drugs and prostitution. We can see a number of beggars in front of the church. We need to remove this evil from our village. What action is the panchayat taking?” he questioned.
Sarpanch, Shawn Martins assured to look into the matter of dumping of debris and if need be even file a complaint.
He also appealed to the former sarpanch to join him to make Calangute a better place to live in.
“I call upon all the former panch members to come forward with their suggestion and ideas. Our doors are always open,” Martins said.
Raising a crucial administrative lapse, former panch member Clotilda Braganza pointed out that at several times people were turned back as the staff concerned was on leave. “What happens when a concerned dealing staff is on leave? Does the panchayat work get stalled? Why should a common man made to suffer if a staff is on leave?” Braganza questioned.
The sarpanch admitted there was an issue when a particular staff was on leave and the body was working to find a way out.
Slamming the panchayat for failure to audit its accounts for the last three years, a local Premanand Divkar said that it was a grave issue and showed the sad state of affairs in the local panchayat body.
Reacting to various development plans especially asphalting of roads, a local Eudice asked whether
the sewerage work was completed. “You are planning to asphalt so many roads. But has JICA finished their sewerage work? Or will they dig the roads again after the pancahayat asphalts it?” she asked.
Premanand Divkar said that none of the developmental proposals placed at the gram sabhas were taken up by the panchayat.
He also informed that the local body should first discuss all the proposals with the Village Development Committee and then place it before the gram sabha.
