NT NETWORK
MAPUSA
The absence of panchas, garbage issues, verification of migrants, was discussed at the gram sabha held at the Moira village panchayat hall on Sunday.
Due to lack of quorum the gram sabha was adjourned for almost one hour and later resumed at 11 am. When the gram sabha began villagers expressed their unhappiness over the absence of panch members for the meeting.
Florence Mendes said, “When the gram sabha began only sarpanch Santosh Chari was present, later at 11 am another panch member Poonam Volvoikar joined the meeting. If these elected members cannot take part in the meeting they should inform the same to the village panchayat’.
Sarpanch Chari said, “All members were served notice nine days ago and if they cannot attend the gram sabha, we cannot do anything”.
The recent efforts of the panchayat to manage the garbage menace was appreciated by the villagers and a resolution was moved by Vishwas Nagvekar appreciating the efforts put in by the sarpanch for supplying dust bins in all wards and also for collecting the garbage.
Sarpanch Chari informed the gram sabha that in order to provide this service, the panchayat is incurring high costs. Hence it was proposed to levy a garbage fee. The garbage committee has proposed to have a fee of Rs 10 per month i.e. Rs 120 for residential houses and Rs 25 per month for apartments and Rs 300 for commercial establishments which include bars, restaurants, shops, mobile carts and others.
The sarpanch said that the proposal will be placed before the general body meeting and if passed it will be implemented. The sarpanch appealed to the villagers to use the bins to dump garbage and not to burn the same.
When the sarpanch was questioned about the status of the garbage waste plant which has been proposed in the village, the sarpanch said that almost 99% work has been done and soon a work order will be issued. He said that the process got delayed due to revision of the electoral process and then the BDO was transferred.
Another issue discussed was the increasing number of migrants in the village. The villagers asked the panchayat to look into the matter as C form of tenants needs to be registered with the police department. A few villagers have volunteered to conduct a survey in the village along with the panchayat. The gram sabha was informed about the panchayat’s decision to renew the agreement for three shops. Also the rent has been revised from Rs 700 per month to Rs 2,150 as per PWD rules.
The meeting was attended by less than15 members which include panchayat secretary Ashok Naik and BDO observer Rekha Sawant.