MARGAO
Revenue loss to the panchayat due to the withdrawal of Octroi by the government took the centre stage at the Velim gram sabha on Sunday.
Gram sabha members also raised the contentious issue of the gate erected by the Fisheries department at the entrance to the jetty road, with members demanding the removal of the gate forthwith, saying it is obstructing the movement of the local populace.
At the gram sabha meeting chaired by sarpanch Veena Cardozo, the members voiced concern over the revenue loss caused to the village due to the government’s decision to withdraw Octroi duty on fuel. The members pointed out that the panchayat used to receive handsome revenue from the Octroi over the years, but its coffers now run literally empty, reducing the panchayat’s status to a financially weaker one.
In this respect, the gram sabha members urged the panchayat to dash off a letter demanding compensation to the body in lieu of revenue loss caused by the withdrawal of Octroi.
The gram sabha members further demanded that the panchayat explore the possibility of revenue generation from the Cutbona jetty.
Members pointed out that the Fisheries department has erected a gate at the entrance to the jetty, thus restricting the movement of residents along the PWD road running parallel to the jetty.
The gram sabha also constituted the various committees at the meeting.
Sarpanch Veena told the media after the meeting that the panchayat would write a letter to the government to compensate the body for the loss of Octroi. She said the government should increase the grants to the panchayat body in lieu of the revenue loss caused by the Octroi withdrawal.
