Zilla Panchayat Member Ulhas Tuemkar making a point at the meeting on Wednesday. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO: The South Goa Zilla Panchayat on Wednesday sent a message loud and clear to the village panchayat that only the Zilla Panchayat member will take the call on the projects to be undertaken in the Zilla Panchayat constituencies and no one else.
While the district panchayat body said the village panchayats can send their developmental proposals to the zilla panchayat, the final call on the implementation and execution of the project will rest with the Zilla Panchayat member of the respective constituency.
The Zilla Panchayat has also demanded that the government arm the district panchayat body with powers such as to sign on social welfare scheme. They also demanded importance and respect at government organized programs and functions.
The South Goa ZP also resolved to go for full-fledged Zilla bhavan in the district with central funding.
The Zilla panchayat meeting chaired by Chairperson Suvarna Tendulkar witnessed a debate whether the Zilla Panchayat should take up the development works proposed by the village panchayats.
After much discussion, the ZP resolved that though nothing stops the panchayats from proposing development projects, the decision to finalizing the projects will solely rests with the respective Zilla Panchayat body. During the discussion, ZP members pointed out while the panchayat bodies either generate their own revenue or receive funds from the government, the Zilla Panchayats have to rely only on the government grants and have no revenue generating avenue. Hence, they said the Zilla Panchayat member will decide which project to take up in his constituency.
The issue came to the fore after a couple of Panchayat bodies are believed to have made proposals to the ZIlla panchayat without the knowledge of the concerned Zilla Panchayat member. “The Panchayat proposals for works will be placed before the ZP meeting, but the concerned member will decide which project should come in his or her constituency”, the Chairperson said.
Zilla Panchayat member Michelle Rebello wondered why the ZP members are not delegated the powers to sign on the social welfare scheme forms as the people have been left the option to approach the MLA or MP. She was supported by other members, who complained that ZP members are not accorded due recognition and respect at government functions.
Tendulkar said the ZP has identified 2-3 areas to set up the Zilla Bhavan, saying a proposal would go to the state government for approval with central funding.
On tenders floated by the previous body and remains pending, Tendulkar told the media that new members have been given the option to go for new projects if they are not interested in executing the workers proposed by their predecessor.
Shiroda ZP Member Deepak Borkar suggested modification of the Borim traffic circle in view of the second major accident at the place.
