MARGAO
Agitated gram sabha of Betalbatim gram sabha on Sunday threatened to boycott gram sabhas if they are not permitted to raise issues of public interest under Any Other Business (AOB) item.
In fact, the issue of the controversial government’s decision barring raising of issues in the AOB dominated the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Constancio Miranda.
The Sarpanch explained to the gram sabha that the panchayat had forwarded the resolution adopted by the gram sabha protesting against the government circular barring discussions in ABO to the office of the Director of Panchayats, but there’s been no reply received till date.
Gram sabha members threatened to leave the meeting hall in protest against the government, but the sarpanch persuaded them to stay put at the meeting and raise their issues.
The sarpanch later explained that gram sabha members are permitted to raise issues during any other business, but hastened to add that the proceedings are not recorded in the minutes book as per the government circular.
Gram sabha members also posed a query to the Sarpanch demanding the status of the Betalbatim junction beautification. Members pointed out that though land belonging to the Church was acquired for the beautification, the land, which is needed to take the beautification plan to the logical conclusion was not acquired.
The sarpanch said he would take up the matter with the local MLA Wilfred D’Sa as well as the PWD.
