NT NETWORK
AQUEM
The Aquem gram sabha on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution not to allow service voters to participate in the ensuing panchayat elections slated in May 2017.
Over 700 service voters had participated in the just-concluded assembly elections while the directorate of panchayat has began the process of delimitation of wards for the elections.
The gram sabha members sought to know from the panchayat if the military was paying house tax and other taxes to the panchayat while also seeking to know if construction licences etc are obtained from the panchayat.
Replying to the query raised by the villagers, Aquem sarpanch Sharon Quadros informed in the negative adding that no house numbers have been issued to the military nor do they pay any tax to the panchayat. The villagers sought to know from the panchayat if they do not pay their taxes or seek NoCs and permissions from the panchayat how can they participate in the elections and it was unanimously passed that the service voters should not be allowed to participate in the elections.
Further the gram sabha also questioned the panchayat members on the status of the mobile towers, to which the members were informed that the panchayat has initiated process to demolish the illegal towers and action would taken soon.
Earlier, the secretary presented a surplus budget of Rs 1.72 crore for the financial year 2017-18 with special focus on development and garbage collection. The gram sabha however pulled up the panchayat for failing to utilise the vehicle given to the panchayat by former MLA Avertano Furtado for garbage
collection.
The sarpanch however informed that the vehicle is lying unutilised as the panchayat does not have a permanent driver and the process to appoint the driver has been initiated. The villagers asked the panchayat to expedite the process and utilise the vehicle for garbage collection in the
village.