MARGAO
With just a year to go for the current term of the body to end in early 2020, South Goa Zilla Panchayat members on Wednesday expressed concern over the government delay in sanctioning development funds for the district panchayat body.
Members also demanded that the Zilla Panchayat move for the blacklisting of erring contractors found guilty of delay in the execution of development works.
The meeting chaired by Chairperson Navnath Naik saw members pointing out that the ZP will not be able to carry out any development works in the constituencies as it anticipates that the election code of conduct may come into force around February-March next year in view of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The members also decided that the Rs 50 lakh funds received under the ST head should be equally utilized in all the 25 ZP wards.
Though the ZP will be shifting its office to the Old Collectorate building on November 27, the ZP members have resolved to look out for a new space to set up a spacious Zilla Panchayat Bhavan on the lines of other states.
The issue of tendering of development works also figured at the meeting. After much discussions, it was decided that only works to the tune of over Rs five lakh should be tendered via e-tender, and to go for open tenders in all other works estimated to cost below Rs five lakh.
Taking cognizance of the sentiments of the members over the delay in executing development works, Chairperson Navnath told the ZP members to issue notices to the unscrupulous contractors before moving the body for their blacklisting.
The issue whether village sarpanchas should be invited and honoured at programmes hosted by the Zilla Panchayat also figured at the ZP meeting. While some of the members maintained that sarpanchas should not be honoured at the ZP programmes since many of them do not respect the ZP members, others pointed out that there is no harm in inviting the village heads for functions such as Swachh Bharat. Curtorim member Moreno Rebello raised the issue of sanitation problem at the housing colonies in his constituency, suggesting that the ZP should procure night soil tanker under Swachh Abhiyan to give relief to the people.
