the goan I network
CANACONA
Worried over the possibility of being demoted from a Grade-A to a Grade-B panchayat over non-reimbursement of about Rs 1 crore in octroi dues, the Loliem-Polem Panchayat has decided to protest outside the Canacona BDO’s office if the State government fails to hand over octroi dues to them.
According to Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Shailesh Pagui, the State government has failed to pay the Panchayat the octroi due to it, as three petrol pumps are operating within the jurisdiction of the village.
“Our panchayat used to previously receive octroi directly from petrol pumps operating in the village, but since the last two years, the State government has abruptly stopped disbursement of octroi to the panchayat,” said Pagui.
“In these two years, we have failed to get Rs 1 crore as the annual octroi contribution was between Rs 45-50 lakh. This is a major source of revenue to the Loliem-Polem Panchayat and as a result, our panchayat is the only panchayat in Canacona taluka to have been classified as an A-Grade
Panchayat.”
The sarpanch claimed that besides meagre house tax and other fees from a few commercial establishments, the panchayat has no other source of income and does not get any income from the tourism sector.
“If the government fails to reimburse our octroi dues, we cannot carry on with any development of the village and moreover, our panchayat is likely to be demoted from a Grade-A to a Grade-B panchayat.”
Pagui accused some government officials of providing them with misleading information by stating that the government was not paying octroi to the panchayat due to GST implementation.
“I wish to tell these officials that though GST is indeed in force, petroleum products are, so far, not included in GST, so there’s no question of GST as the probable reason to deny our right to octroi,” insisted Pagui.
“We had already petitioned the Director of Panchayats to release the octroi due to Loliem-Polem panchayat, but there has been no response from the
department.”
He informed that when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had visited Canacona to inspect the 4-lane road, they had informed him about their plight.
“Other than assuring to look into the matter, nothing has materialised from the government as well. Now, we have approached Dy Speaker and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes, who has also promised to look into the
matter.”
“If the government doesn’t pay heed to our request, we will have no option but to protest outside the BDO’s office to demand immediate release of our octroi
dues.”
“So far, we are utilising funds available with the panchayat, but in the absence of octroi, we cannot undertake any developmental work in the village,’ said the sarpanch.
When reminded that the government had not re-imbursed octroi to any of the local bodies, Pagui shot back: “Maybe, other local bodies do not find octroi important, but it is not the case with the Loliem-Polem panchayat, as octroi is our major income source of
income.”
