No-trust motions in VPs hindering development
NT Staff Reporter Panaji, Oct 27 Increasing numbers of no-confidence motions in the village panchayats of Goa are proving to be a hindrance to development in these villages, panchayat authorities feel. Happening that is too within just five months of the panchayat elections, this instability will have an adverse impact on the development of villages, authorities say. The director of panchayats, Mr Menino DSouza agrees that the increasing number of no-confidence motions are not a healthy trend. But he said that in a democracy, the majority has to rule. He feels that sometimes there are agreements between panchayat members to rotate the chair of sarpanch between them after fixed intervals. But when the sarpanch refuses to hand over power, the others move a motion of no confidence against him. If that motion is somehow defeated, then by law, no other motion of no confidence can be brought against the sarpanch for the next six months. This is done to bring about some stability for at least for six months. But the downside of this is that if that sarpanch loses the confidence of the majority again after a few days, he cannot be removed for the next six months. Since he does not have the majority, no resolution will be passed for six months and no development will be done, said Mr DSouza. He agrees there are too many no-confidence motions and most of the BDOs time is eaten up in these. He also agrees that these motions block development work. But he said it is good the gram sabhas have been revived where people ask questions and the sarpanchs chair has become a hot seat. The Tiswaddi block development officer, Mr Vishant Gaunekar feels that members bring about no-confidence motions mostly due to personal interest or due to political affiliations. It is not because of major policy decision failures. Anyway, it is to the detriment of the all. He explains. Whenever a resolution for a development work is passed in the panchayat and forwarded to the BDO, he deputes his engineer to inspect the site. The engineer also discusses the matter with the panch members, takes the measurements, prepares estimate and sends the file to the PWD. By the time it comes back with approval, invariably two months have passed. The approved file is then sent back to the panchayat. The panchayat has to now advertise in newspapers inviting tenders. If the sarpanch changes by then, the new sarpanch may not go ahead with the file. He sends some new resolutions pertaining to some different development wards which he is interested in. And the whole process starts all over again. All the groundwork done on the earlier file goes in vain, said Mr Gaunekar. That personal interest is the prime reason for no-confidence motions seems to get credence from the speech of Ms Helena Lourenco, former sarpanch of St Cruz village panchayat who was voted out of office on October 1, 2007. According to the minutes of the special meeting held on the October 1, 2007, she stated that one of the reasons for this no-confidence motion is her refusal to issue occupancy certificate in the above matters. She further stated that village panchayat members had requested her to go on leave which proposal was rejected by her. She also complained that norms, rules and regulations for construction projects are violated, open spaces, setbacks are not considered, flats and shops are occupied by people before revised plans are issued by the concerned departments. The occupancy certificate has been issued without completing the structure and in cases where CRZ is concerned the members were insisting me to issue house numbers to the huts . How ugly no-confidence motions can now get, is amply demonstrated in the October 1 incident at Calangute village panchayat where unidentified goons attacked a panch member with knives just before the special meeting to hear the motion of no confidence against the sarpanch. Charges and counter-charges have flown from both factions since then and the battle has now shifted to the High Court. Till then, development in Calangute takes a backseat. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=10288 Sanny de Quepem <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com
