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MARGAO
Village panchayats in Salcete on Sunday held their gram sabhas to give their stamp for approval for the annual budget estimates for the 2017-18 financial year. The budget estimates were placed before the gram sabhas since this is probably the last gram sabha of these panchayat bodies before the panchayats go for the elections around May-June.
Seraulim: The gram sabha chaired by sarpanch Leslie Dourado has approved a budget of `83 lakh with focus on the village development, including roads, drains and bush cutting.
After the meeting, Leslie told The Goan that the budget has made a hike in the provision for garbage collection, including the weekly dry waste collection by the village panchayat.
Orlim: Orlim sarpanch Gaudencio Luis informed that the gram sabha members have told the panchayat the budget estimates have been revised after making the corrections. He said the panchayat had made a provision of `three lakh as salary of the members, taking into account the strength of the panchayat body which may go up to seven as against the present five member body. After discussions, it was resolved to make a provision of `2.5 lakh on this head. The sarpanch also thanked the members for their cooperation during the last five years.
Rachol: The Rachol gram sabha gave its approval for a surplus budget of `84.89 lakh with the estimates focusing on reconstruction, asphalting and black topping of all internal roads.
The meeting chaired by sarpanch Joseph Vaz discussed a host of issues, including the burning waste issue. Joseph informed that the panchayat will seek support of government departments, including Water Resources, to build new culverts and repair the old ones and to strengthen the traditional bandhs. He said the panchayat will pursue the construction of the sub health centre in the village in the coming financial year.
Telaulim: The Telaulim gram sabha has passed the annual budget for the financial year 2017-18 pegged at `1.02 crore, with the panchayat making a provision for construction and repairs of the existing drainage. Sarpanch Mauricio Carneiro lamented that though the panchayat has funds at its disposal and had proposed a number of projects under the 14th Finance commission, delay in preparing estimates by the Salcete BDO office has delayed implementation of many a project in the village. He said that proposals for new projects under the 14th Finance Commission are stuck at the office of the Salcete BDO for want of estimates. “Files put up before the BDO office for approval are stuck for months together,” he lamented.
Paroda: The Paroda gram sabha on Sunday approved the budget estimates pegged at `1.24 crore with a provision to take up development works, including construction of new drains, roads, etc.
The meeting, chaired by sarpanch Deepak Kharangate, approved the budget estimates with a provision to tackle the waste menace in the village.
The meeting also saw some of the members objecting to a mobile tower at the road heading to the Parvat hill.
Chandor: The Chandor gram sabha on Sunday granted approval for the budget estimates for the 2017-18 financial pegged at `29 lakh.
The meeting chaired by Sarpanch Lucy D’Cruz saw the panchayat proposing a higher allocation for the burning issue of waste management. The budget also made a provision for the maintenance of the children’s park.
The audit report came up for discussion at the meeting, wherein members raised a host of queries on the non-utilisation of the grants by the panchayat over the years. Members sought explanation on the non-utilisation of grants pertaining to the year 2010 till last year.
The panchayat body was told the comply with the observations made in the audit report.
Sarzora: The Sarzora gram sabha on Sunday approved a deficit budget of `62 lakh with focus on garbage disposal and construction of new roads.
Chaired by sarpanch Jacinth Fernandes, the gram sabha took account of the financial position of the Panchayat body since Sarzora is one of the weaker panchayats in Salcete taluka.
The sarpanch informed that since the panchayat has no major sources of revenue, it has to fully depend on the grants sanctioned by the government.
He pointed out that the budget estimates lay focus on strengthening the dry waste collection in the village, adding that allocation has been made for road construction.
