the goan I network
MARGAO
For, the panchayat bodies across the state were barred from holding ordinary meetings of gram sabhasas well as the fortnightly meetings of Panchayat till the lifting of the election code of conduct.
Following the memorandum issued by the Director of Panchayats, Gurudas Pilarnekar, Panchayat administration had come to a grinding halt, with even applications for NOCs piling up at the bodies for want of the fortnightly meetings.
A resident of Manopa-Navelim and former panch Emidio Costa told The Goan that even basis administrative services such as issuance of NOCs by the panchayats have come to a halt since the election code of conduct came into effect from January 5.
“Normally, the applications for NOCs are placed before the Panchayat meetings for approval and since the Panchayat Director has barred these meetings during the code of conduct, issuance of NOCs have come to a halt at the panchayat bodies,” Emidio said.
Interestingly, questions are raised at the panchayat level whether the code of conduct will be lifted vis-Ã -vis Panchayat a
nd Municipalities immediately with the election process ending on February 4 or whether these bodies will have to wait till the lifting of the code after the declaration of results on March 11.
When The Goan called up the Panchayat Director, Gurudas Pilarnekar to shed light on the situation,
which has hampered the administration and development work at the Panchayat bodies,
he said his office had barred the gram sabhas and fortnightly meetings of the Panchayat meetings to rule out any possibility of taking policy decisions during these meetings which may violate the code of conduct.
Pilarnekar, however, said that since the elections have taken place, he would issue a notification in a day or two lifting
the ban on holding the gram sabhas and the fortnightly meetings so that the routine administration process goes on unhindered.
He, however, pointed out that transfers of panchayat officials may have to wait for some time, probably till the declaration of the election results.
