Panchayat cites miscommunication over agenda
Porvorim
The Salvador do Mundo panchayat has postponed the special gram sabha that was scheduled for Sunday, 21st September 2025, on the creek beautification project under Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
In a letter dated 17th September 2025, addressed to the Project Engineer (Civil), Special Purpose Vehicle (GTDC), Paryatan Bhavan, Patto-Panaji, the panchayat stated that the gram sabha was being postponed due to “miscommunication and misunderstanding regarding the agenda.”
At the gram sabha held on 17th August 2025, it was unanimously decided that there should be a PowerPoint presentation on the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 creek beautification project. Following this, the panchayat requested the Tourism Department (GTDC) to arrange the presentation. However, in a reply received on 12th September 2025 from the Chief Engineer (PC), GTDC, it was mentioned that the presentation would cover the operation, management and maintenance of the project. This, the panchayat said, was not in line with the purpose of the presentation requested. Hence, the sarpanch, “acting in good faith and to uphold the trust of the villagers,” decided to postpone the gram sabha. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte was scheduled to attend the meeting.
Speaking to the press on this matter, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said the panchayat has nine members, of which five are from the ruling side. Since he is also a resident of Salvador do Mundo, he had decided to attend the gram sabha and share his views on the project. He added that a lot of development is taking place in the neighbouring panchayat areas of Penha de França and Succor, and to ensure that Salvador do Mundo does not feel neglected, he had advised the GTDC Project Cell to prepare a proposal for beautification of the Salai creek under Swadesh Darshan 2.0.
The panchayat had requested the Tourism Department to present this project before villagers at the gram sabha, to which the department had agreed. Accordingly, the special gram sabha was called for 21st September 2025, and a copy of the notice was marked to him. “The gram sabha is the voice of the people. The Tourism Department would have heard their views and suggestions and made changes in the project accordingly. But suddenly, the panchayat postponed the gram sabha for reasons unknown to me,” Khaunte said.
He further remarked that it appeared the five ruling members of the panchayat were being influenced by some disgruntled elements trying to create divisions among villagers. He said he had advised his department to write back to the panchayat and fix a new date for the gram sabha.
