WHAT PLAGUES COTIGAO
Water crises has been ignored over the years
No proper information on gram sabha schedule
Ponsuleamoll ward and its pancha ignored
Broken electricity poles not replaced
No support from MLA and minister Tawadkar
.....
Tawadkar blamed for sorry state of Cotigao panchayat
Sarpanch says minister is unhappy as VP does not bow to his diktats
THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
Residents of Ponsulemoll-Cotigao who are already hit by water shortage, have now alleged that their ward is being ignored by the Cotigao Panchayat.
Speaking to The Goan, one Dasrath of Ponsuleamoll said that they had demanded to make a proper announcement of the gram sabha in the Ponsuleamoll ward, so that residents could voice their concerns and raise matters at the meet.
“We are always kept in the dark and even our panch is not being taken into confidence by the panchayat, while our miseries increase every passing day, especially during summer,” alleged Dashrath.
Dasrath further informed that for 10 months now, people are informing the panchayat about a precarious electricity pole, but the panchayat nor the electricity department has moved the pole.
“It is a disaster waiting to happen. Human and animal lives could be in danger if the half broken pole breaks bringing the live electricity cables to the ground,” said Dashrath.
Another resident, Shabu Velip said despite asking the panchayat, no notice was put up in the vicinity regarding the gram sabha.
Another alleged that even the ward panch Ratnakar Velip is kept in the dark and no attention is given to his requests.
Responding to complaints from residents of Ponsuleamoll, Cotigao Sarpanch Meena Gaonkar sought to blame Canacona MLA and minister Ramesh Tawadkar for his poor support, making it difficult to get government departments to address problems not only at Ponsuleamoll, but in the entire Cotigao village.
“The water crisis is the same every year. The village river, wells and bore wells go dry in summer and the panchayat is unable to meet the demands,” said Gaonkar.
“The panchayat has regularly passed resolutions demanding better water supply and has forwarded it to the PWD. Similarly, a resolution on removal and replacement of broken electricity poles and replacement of other dilapidated electricity alignments have been conveyed to the electricity department, but no one is paying heed to our pleas.”
“We do not get any cooperation from the departments concerned, nor does our MLA “ a minister in the government “ come to our rescue,” lamented the sarpanch.
Gaonkar then alleged that the minister is unhappy with the panchayat as they do not bow to his diktats.
As elected representatives, we cannot ignore others and have to give equal attention to all.
The local MLA does not seem to like this and hence, he does not help us at all. And with the minister not interested, no government department is cooperating with the panchayat even in times of crisis,” stated Gaonkar.
