the goan I network
CANACONA
The gram sabha was not only poorly attended by members, but only Sarpanch Navneeta Naik Gaunkar and Panchayat Secretary Sushant Gaonkar replied to the angry residents who charged some elected members of total negligence of villagers’ needs. The deputy sarpanch attended the gram sabha only briefly and left the venue, while Panch Pramod Phaldessai sat among the members.
“My mother who is almost bed-ridden and handicapped by sickness is not given benefits of any government scheme,” said a gram sabha member Pemla, who incidentally is a resident of one ward, while her mother of another ward.
As other members joined the chorus saying it was indeed the work of elected panchas to apprise residents of the schemes and government benefits, the sarpanch however, defended saying: “It is also the duty of residents to keep in touch with the panchayat to know about the schemes and other benefits.”
Sarpanch Naik Gaunkar said many developmental works initiated by the panchayat get stalled for wants of NOCs from landlords or CRZ authorities.
“Atleast three developmental works initiated at Dhavalkhazan and Igrej-Vall ward could not be taken up, as there are no NOCs from CRZ authorities, while two more proposals for roads in Karashir-Moll are also stalled, as comunidade is not forthcoming,” informed the sarpanch.
Earlier, while reading the minutes of previous gram sabha, members pointed out discrepancies in executing the resolutions taken.
The members also raised that eatables provided in Anganwadi (Balwadis) is of poor quality and is often filled with rodents, etc.
They also demanded that roadside trees which are protruding on the roads, distracting motorists should be trimmed immediately.
“Newly constructed road at Dhavalkhazan has about five coconut trees which are almost on the middle of the tarred road. We have taken a resolution to cut and remove these coconut trees, are you waiting for an accident to happen,” questioned Godwin Fernandes.
The sarpanch however, expressed her inability saying that the landlords are not giving permission to cut these trees. The members asked the panchayat secretary to take up the issue with taluka disaster management, as these trees in the middle of the road.
Meanwhile, the secretary informed that the panchayat has received grants of Rs 19.96 lakh, while a tender for Rs 9.54 lakh for which work order is issued is pending for execution. BDO observer Biva Velip was present.
