Newly-elected Colva Sarpanch Menino Fernandes with members of his group after his election. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: Menino Fernandes has been elected unopposed as the new sarpanch of the coastal village of Colva.
In the elections held on Thursday, Menino was elected declared unopposed by the Presiding Officer M D Parwar after the nomination paper filed by panch member Francis Cardozo was rejected on ground that it was filed beyond the stipulated time.
The presiding officer told the media that Cardozo came and filed his nomination paper for the vacant post after the stipulated time, while justifying his decision to reject the form.
Menino succeeds Snowkon Gonsalves, who was ousted from office in a no confidence motion.
He later told the media that the panchayat body would accord priority to resolve the burning issue of garbage problem facing the village. “I would accord topmost priority to resolve the garbage problem. People suffer on the garbage front in the village," he said, even as he thanked members of his group for supporting his candidature.
On the failure to cap the problem of pollution plaguing the Colva creek, Menino admitted that the creek is an old issue, which has not been solved till date by the ministers and MLAs. “The ministers and MLAs have failed to address the issue. But, the panchayat will take up the problem with the help of the members," Menino added.
