Pointing out various irregularities in the functioning of the previous Siolim-Marna panchayat, the Village Development Committee (VDC) of the panchayat has called for an investigation into the misappropriation of funds of the 14th Finance Commission and the alleged fraud committed while issuing trade licences by the previous body.
The convenor of VDC, Joaquim Barros, informed that the committee members had worked tirelessly and prepared a detailed plan for the village.
“Since the panchayat had received a fund of ₹74 lakh under the 14th Finance Commission, we had prepared various proposals, including water filters for anganwadi and schools, laptops, CCTV cameras for the village, fire extinguishers, etc,” Barros said, adding that the panchayat body bypassed the VDC and purchased the items at much higher prices by manipulating the rate.
Barros was addressing a press conference along with other committee members Victor D’Souza, Amrut Agarwadekar, Gregory D’Souza, Anthony Desa and others.
Giving an example of an irregularity, Barros pointed out that the VDC had decided to purchase a water filter of ₹9,000 but the panchayat decided to purchase it at a higher price thereby misappropriating panchayat funds. He demanded a detailed inquiry into the misappropriation of funds either by the vigilance department or the director of panchayat.
VDC members also said they had come across a fraud on issuing of trade licenses in the panchayat. “Trade licenses issued to commercial establishments within jurisdiction of panchayat against payment of certain fees did not match with the outward record number issued to trade licenses,” Chodankar said.
The VDC members have also demanded the government revoke the transfer order of the panchayat secretary, who has been working very meticulously to put things in order in the panchayat.
