MAPUSA
While Tivim locals on Sunday unanimously resolved to revise the rates to run advertising campaigns at various bus stops in the village, the panchayat has decided to impose fines against any hoardings which have been erected without its permission.
Tivim Sarpanch Arjun Aroskar informed the villagers that the bus shelters (bus stops) did not belong to the panchayat but it had appointed an agency to maintain them and the agency in turn paid annual fees of Rs 8,400 to the panchayat for the advertisement campaign.
“The bus stops are not constructed or installed by the panchayat and hence the responsibility or liability towards its maintenance does not lie with the panchayat,” Aroskar said.
The sarpanch was responding to a proposal raised by former panchayat member and local resident Robert Colaco.
Colaco said the bus shelters which were in the size of 200 square feet were used to run advertising campaigns and questioned whether the panchayat was earning any revenue from it.
The villagers stressed that the rates for the advertisement were implemented years back and demanded that it be revised.
The sarpanch agreed to the views of the locals and decided to revise the rates.
Further, the panchayat also decided to impose a fine on all the hoardings that have been erected in the village without its permission.
Colaco told the gram sabha that the portable morgue donated to the Tivim panchayat was not in working condition and wondered if it was under warranty.
The sarpanch said the freezer was under warranty and would look into the matter.
Slamming the panchayat for rejecting the permission to raise development issues at the gram sabha, Colaco threatened to approach the concerned authorities on the issue.
“In my proposal I had asked for discussion about the progress of the last gram sabha meeting which was rejected by the panchayat,” Colaco said.
The sarpanch informed that the proposal was rejected because it was not specific and was against Section 6 of Goa Panchayat Raj Act.
“You had not specified what issue to take up for discussion. Besides, progress of gram sabha is always informed to villagers,” Aroskar said.
The locals also raised the issue of hardship faced by the villagers on account of the speed breaker and zebra crossing on the main road.
Aroskar informed that the file has been processed and in the office of Collector.
