Panchayat secretary acting independently, alleges Tivim sarpanch
COSTLY KICK-OFF GONE WRONG: The Tivim football ground, refurbished at a cost of Rs 53 lakh, lies in disarray with an uneven pitch and signs of poor workmanship.
Mapusa
Angry residents of Tivim, at a heated gram sabha meeting, accused the village panchayat of failing to properly inform locals about the proposed widening of the State highway and of mismanaging public funds in multiple projects, including the football ground repairs and a library renovation.
Villagers raised serious concerns over the lack of transparency regarding the State government’s plan to widen the existing 9-metre highway to 30 metres. Local resident Robert Colaco warned that such a move would affect several homes, chapels, and a large portion of Tivim Church property. He also criticised the panchayat for not holding public consultations during the inspection of roadside encroachments.
“If the highway is expanded, we stand to lose homes, heritage structures, and community land. The panchayat should have created awareness before carrying out inspections,” Colaco said. He also pointed out that there was once a plan to build a bypass behind the panchayat building, which now seems to have been abandoned without public discussion.
Sarpanch Venkatesh Shirodkar responded by saying that notices had been issued to roadside encroachers after an inspection conducted by the panchayat secretary. However, he claimed the secretary was not cooperating with the elected body and was acting independently. “We are being kept in the dark on crucial matters,” Shirodkar told the gram sabha.
The villagers also lashed out at the panchayat over poor renovation work on the Tivim football ground, for which Rs 53 lakh was spent during the tenure of the previous sarpanch. Colaco alleged that substandard mud was used, the ground was left unlevelled, and due to a lack of fencing, cattle now roam freely on the pitch at night.
“This is a total waste of public money. The ground is unplayable. If the BDO can only sanction Rs 5 lakh, how was Rs 53 lakh spent? This smells of a scam,” Colaco charged, demanding an inquiry into the expenditure.
Shirodkar assured that a letter would be sent to the Block Development Officer (BDO) seeking a meeting with all stakeholders involved in the ground’s renovation, including engineers and the contractor.
Another controversy emerged over the refurbishment of the panchayat library, which locals alleged has been converted into a private facility. “Rs 5 lakh was spent on the renovation, but no details are available. Whose library is it—public or private?” Colaco questioned.
Local Nilesh Salgaokar also raised concerns about building permissions being granted for large projects even when the existing road width is only four metres—short of the mandatory six metres. He urged the panchayat to include a remark when issuing such permissions.
The meeting ended with villagers demanding more transparency, accountability, and active public engagement in panchayat decisions.
