VASCO
The Sancoale Panchayat on Tuesday moved into new rented premises and launched an ambulance, while also offering compensation to residents affected by the cyclone Tauktae.
But the talking point was not the event itself, but the fact that the temporary panchayat office was inaugurated by Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho, and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha was not even invited to the function.
Defending the panchayat’s decision to ignore Saldanha, Sancoale Sarpanch Ramakant Borker told reporters that Saldanha had been bypassing the Sancoale panchayat and blocking their development works.
"A lot of panchayat projects were initially pending because every time we proposed some project, Saldanha would arrive and say she is taking up the same work to take credit.”
“Sometimes, she interferes in our projects and even stops our works. When we wanted to get a road widened near MES college by clearing encroachments, she took the residents to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and stopped our work, thereby creating a rift between the Panchayat and MLA. This rift is increasing with every passing day.”
Borker said if the MLA wanted to take up projects, she could inform the panchayat and both could work together.
“But she tends to bypass us all the time. She recently inaugurated a transformer but did not inform either the Panchayat or our panch members. We, therefore, decided to reciprocate in her style by deliberately not inviting her for our function despite being our MLA," said Borkar.
“None of our works are dependent on her and we have sufficient funds for development works and whenever we require funds, Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho is always there to support us,” said Borker.
Borkar said the panchayat body would support a candidate proposed by Mauvin Godinho in the upcoming assembly elections.
“She was chairperson of the Rehabilitation Board and although the panchayat gave her the NOC, she did nothing to rehabilitate people. She asked us for a NOC to beautify Bandolem lake and despite the NOC, nothing happened.”
“The Kala Bhavan is pending for years and she has failed as an MLA,” Borker added.
