PORVORIM
Stating that the Penha de Franca panchayat is yet to receive Rs 3.48 crore from the State government as octroi for three consecutive financial years, a panch has claimed that this has severely affected activities of the panchayat.
Penha de Franca Panch Shamsunder Kamat added that the government had also not been supportive of their panchayat in efforts to keep their village clean.
“The panchayat receives octroi grants to the tune of Rs 1.16 cr every year from the State government. However, since the last three consequent financial years, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, the panchayat has not received a grant of Rs 3.48 crore from the State government,” said Kamat.
“The panchayat collects door-to-door garbage every day and is required to pay the contractor every month towards garbage collection. If this amount is not paid to the contractor on time, the contractor stops garbage collection.”
“In 2015, the panchayat had received the third prize from Goa State Pollution Control Board for waste management. On one hand, the Centre has launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and is urging panchayats to maintain cleanliness in their localities, while the State government is not supporting our panchayat, which strives to keep its village clean,” said Kamat.
The panch said the panchayat had written several times to the Directorate of Panchayats to release octroi, but all efforts had been in vain.
“Besides, the panchayat has to undertake annual work to cut bushes, clean gutters and undertake minor development works in the village. In the absence of funds, it is difficult for the panchayat to carry out its administrative and development activities. The government must immediately release octroi to the panchayat,” Kamat added.
