MARGAO
With the election code of conduct coming into force from Saturday after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the Lok Sabha polls, an election flying squad descended at the Varca panchayat hall where the panchayat had convened the gram sabha on Sunday.
Just before the gram sabha could start, the flying squad officials along with police personnel made their presence felt at the panchayat hall to seek details from the Sarpanch Salesiana (Selu) Fernandes and the panchayat secretary.
When the Sarpanch maintained that the gram sabha has been called to transact the business, including the discussion and passage of the annual budget for the financial year 2024-25, the flying squad official contacted higher officials to seek clarity whether the gram sabha can go ahead with the agenda.
It was only after the higher officials gave their nod for the meeting, the gram sabha chaired by the Sarpanch started, but the agenda was restricted to the discussion and passage of the budget.
Sarpanch Salesiana and deputy Sarpanch Solan Furtado later told the media that the gram sabha only restricted the discussions on the budget estimates for the financial year 2024-25. “The meeting discussed a host of proposals made in the budget estimates, including garbage management,” Furtado said.
Furtado said the panchayat had abolished the light tax given that the street light and its maintenance have been taken over by the Electricity Department.
