MAPUSA
“In the past, there was favouritism in the panchayat. Only those who had voted for the ruling panel were issued NOCs and income certificates. Our panchayat won’t harass anyone on party lines,” said Arporkar, who is a lawyer by profession.
Although Arporkar had unsuccessfully contested once in the past, this was the second time she contested and was elected as panch for the first time. She also got the opportunity to be the sarpanch of the village for the first time.
“We will not discriminate people on party lines. Any person whether he is a supporter of BJP, Congress, Goa Forward Party or any other party will get similar treatment in our panchayat,” she said describing how she and her family members were made to suffer by the panchayat members in the past.
Significantly, former sarpanch, Rama Parab has been presiding over the fate of the Oxel Panchayat for the last two decades.
She said her top priority was to find an immediate solution to the garbage problem on the hillside of the village, which is home to a lot of new construction projects.
She also said she would familiarize the people of her village about several government schemes that were on offer.
SALIGAO: Riding on her father’s experience and popularity, Saligao Sarpanch, Lafira Remedios e Gomes has been elected for the first time and has got the opportunity to preside over the affairs of the panchayat.
Her influential father, Lucas Remedios was a former sarpanch and is presently elected as a panch member in the village.
The new and young sarpanch said she plans to work with her entire team and resolve the problems affecting the village.
“My main target is to tackle the ticklish garbage issue. We are thinking of placing dustbins at various points in the village but we will discuss this first in our meeting which will be held very soon,” Gomes said.
She said power and water are two other issues that also need to be looked into.
GUIRIM: Guirim Sarpanch Chaitali Morajkar has also been elected for the first time and the lady luck shone on her bright as she was elected as the sarpanch of the village.
But like Saligao sarpanch, Morajkar too has her husband to thank to for her fairytale entry in village politics and getting the top job in the panchayat.
She said her priority was to desilt and reconstruct key nullahs in her village.
Construction of club house, community hall and crematorium was also on top of her list.
ASSAGAO: For Assagao sarpanch, Jalindar Gaonkar, sixth time was lucky. Having been elected for five terms, he was a deputy sarpanch earlier but became a sarpanch for the first time in his sixth term. Like others, he too finds treating garbage will be crucial but at the same time resolving long pending water scarcity problem in Badem and power issues were top on the list.
“Many hotel owners dump garbage on the roadside and scoot away. We need to find a lasting solution to this waste problem,” Gaonkar said. He said a decision has also been taken to build a power sub-station at Sonarxet, Assagao, which will resolve power woes.
