MAPUSA
Calling for audit of the Calangute panchayat accounts on top priority, the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF) has said the Calangute panchayat accounts have not been audited for several years and therefore there was ample of scope for manipulation of public funds.
The CCF has also requested the panchayat to conduct the gram sabhas in a fair manner and positive spirit so as to allow the locals to raise issues affecting the village at the meeting.
“Panchayat accounts without audit for several years will definitely create loop holes for manipulation of public funds which are not positive signs for running of an effective administration and day to day business of the village panchayat,” said CCF President, Premanand Diukar.
He said the panchayat had promised to clear the accounts promptly when the CCF had approached it sometime back but has failed to do so till today.
The CCF president along with other members met and submitted a memorandum on various issues plaguing the village to Calangute Sarpanch Shawn Martins.
The CCF said the local MLA had promised to the locals to issue a notification to de-notify the setting up of the sewerage pumping station at Gauravaddo East but so far notification has been issued and urged the sarpanch to follow up the matter with the MLA.
Diukar informed that the CCF had conducted the audit of all roads in Calangute in 2019 and the reports were submitted to the panchayat and the PWD office.
“The PWD minister had promised to repair all the roads on top priority but till today most of the roads are in bad state,” he said.
The CCF also brought to the attention of the sarpanch that the panchayat had violated environment laws and therefore they had to approach the GCZMA with a complaint against the panchayat for destroying sand dunes.
“We regret to state that your office failed to follow the direction of the GCZMA and restore the sand dunes at Sauntavaddo,” the CCF president said and pointed out that there were several other instances where NOCs have been issued in detriment to the environmental laws.
The memorandum was also signed by CCF’s joint secretary, Kevin Silveira, treasurer, Sapnesh Vaigankar and public relation officer, Clotildes Braganca.
