OLD GOA
For the past several months, the website of the Chimbel panchayat is not working and the domain is apparently up for grabs.
In this regards, a local Ajay Kholkar has petitioned the Director of Panchayats (DoP) as well as the Tiswadi BDO to look into the issue and make the website(www.villagepanchayatchimbel.com) functional at the earliest so that the villagers could avail of all services as well as information online.
In his petition, Kholkar has cited the order of Goa State Information Commission directing the DoP to ensure that each and every village panchayat has a well formulated and user-friendly website displaying all information in public domain.
Kholkar has also cited a high court order in a writ petition which has called for better transparency, accountability and openness of governance in addition to reducing RTI applications.
Surprisingly though, the Chimbel VP website features on the websites list on the portal of the DoP even when it is non functional.
“It is very sad to state that for last few months the website for the Chimbel panchayat (www.villagepanchayatchimbel.com) is not available. Kindly refer to the link available on the portal of Director of Panchayats (http://panchayatsgoa.gov.in/vpwebsites.aspx),” Kholkar states, while further informing that the website is not functioning.
“In the absence of this website, the villagers cannot avail any online services such as minutes of panchayat body meetings, minutes of gram sabha meetings, annual audited accounts, notices of meetings, welfare schemes, fund details, gram panchayat development plan, online payments, etc,” Kholkar adds.
When contacted, Kholkar informed The Goan that the domain www.villagechimbelpanchayat.com is up for grabs and anybody can buy the same. “Tomorrow, I can get the domain by paying the necessary fees and misuse it. The panchayat authorities should immediately resolve the issue and get the website functional at the earliest for the benefits of the villagers,” Kholkar added.
