Moira panchayat upset with
sudden transfer of secretary
Transfer at the behest of local MLA, allege panch members; Ticlo washes his hands off
MAPUSA
MAPUSA: The government's sudden move to transfer the secretary of Moira Panchayat on Wednesday has sparked off anger in the village.
Incidentally, the decision came even after the panchayat members in a unanimous resolution had requested the authorities not to transfer the dedicated secretary.
Around a month back on getting a hint that there were attempts to transfer the secretary, the panchayat members unanimously passed a resolution stating that the transfer would badly affect development work of the village and also obstruct the ongoing day-to-day routine work of the panchayat.
Requesting the authorities not to proceed with the transfer of the panchayat, the members had said the full-time secretary, Francis Fernandes was very honest, hardworking and punctual in his service and also helpful to the locals in the area.
“Taking into consideration of the disadvantages of sudden and untimely transfer of the secretary, we unanimously express our opposition and request the government not to go ahead in the decision to transfer the secretary,” the resolution said.
The resolution was unanimously approved by Sarpanch Santosh Chari and Panchas Poonam Volvoikar, Suryakant Bhatlekar, Oswald Cordeiro, Sadanand Raul and Daganath Belekar.
A source disclosed that the panchayat secretary has been transferred at the behest of the local MLA, Glen Ticlo.
According to the source, the Aldona MLA was upset because the panchayat members refused to give a go ahead to an illegal construction belonging to a BJP Mandal member close to the MLA.
“The local MLA wanted the panchayat members to condone the act of his worker which was completely illegal. The BJP Karyakarta was building a construction opposite the Moira church in comunidade property. The comunidade officials complained to us. How can we allow such a blatant illegality,” a panchayat member asked, furious with the MLA’s decision to hit back at the panchayat members by transferring the secretary.
For the record, in the last four years Moira Panchayat has seen the back of seven secretaries.
On Wednesday, in its monthly meeting the panchayat members have once again passed a resolution asking the government to revoke the blatant transfer of the secretary.
Aldona MLA, Glen Ticlo washed his hands off saying he had nothing to do with the transfer of the secretary.
“I have no interest in the transfer of the secretary. It is for the minister to decide. I am just a mere MLA. How can I decide on whom to transfer or not to transfer,” Ticlo defended himself.
He then pointed to the transfers of the mamlatdars and the joint mamlatdars initiated by the government of Goa.
