MARGAO
Members of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat on Wednesday has pinned their hopes on the two Zilla Panchayat members, Ulhas Tuenkar and Antonio Vas, who have been elected as MLAs in the just concluded Assembly polls, to pursue with the government the long-pending demand for powers and funds for the Zilla Panchayats.
Both Ulhas and Antonio did not let down the Zilla members as they promised to take up with the government the issues plaguing the Zilla Panchayats. The duo, elected from Navelim and Cortalim constituencies respectively, were honoured by the Zilla Panchayats at the meeting chaired by Chairperson Suvarna Tendulkar on Wednesday.
The chairperson exuded confidence that both Ulhas and Antonio will take up the ZP issues before the government for their redressal.
ZP Vice-Chairperson, Kushali Velip urged the two MLAs to raise their voice in support of the demands of the Zilla Panchayat for powers and functions. He, lamented, that previous Zilla Panchayat members, who rose to become MLAs, had failed to do anything for the devolution of powers and functions for the Zilla Panchayats. “We have faith and trust that both Ulhas and Antonio will take up the issue of devolution of powers and funds for the Zilla Panchayats,” he added.
Touched by the gesture of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat to honour him upon his election as MLA, Ulhas pointed out that development has been carried out by him through the funds of the Zilla Panchayat. “Through the Zilla Panchayat, I ushered in the development of my constituency and I am happy that the people have stood by me in the Assembly election,” he said.
Ulhas promised to take up the issues plaguing the Zilla Panchayats in the Assembly, saying he would try and get other MLAs too to support the cause of the ZPs.
Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas reminded that people do not abandon the elected representatives if they sincerely work for the people. “My people benefitted immensely out of the development work carried out by me in my constituency. I have worked hard from the grassroots to reach the position of MLA,” he said.
Calls for tweaking norms for open tenders for works worth Rs 5 lakh
MARGAO: South Goa Zilla Panchayat members on Wednesday have called for tweaking of the norms for open tenders for works amounting to Rs 5 lakh, saying that contractors have been shying away from taking up the works to be executed via e-tenders.
The members also cried foul over the failure of the government in revising the GSR rates, saying that the old construction rates have come in the way of execution of development works by the South Goa Zilla Panchayat.
Raia ZP member Dominick Gaunkar drew attention of the chair to the deadlock wherein contractors do not take up development works amounting to Rs 5 lakh since they are e-tendered. “It would be in the fitness of things that a decision is taken to ensure that only works amounting to Rs 10 lakh are e-tendered by the body,” he suggested.
ZP Chief Executive Officer, Florina Colaco, however, pointed out that the e-tendering norm has been laid down by the government and the Zilla Panchayat has hardly any role to play in it. She, however, said it is for the Zilla Panchayat to take a resolution and send it to the government for action.
Benaulim ZP member Hanzel Fernandes drew the attention of the Chair that the names of the Zilla Panchayat members, elected in 2020, have not been updated till date.
