Pandemonium at Nerul gram sabha (Gomantak Times) By a Staff Reporter [EMAIL PROTECTED]
PANJIM: Expressing lack of confidence in the panch members comprising of Nerul gram panchayat, the Gram Sabha which met here yesterday demanded that the same be dissolved an an administrator be appointed to oversee its affairs. Locals attending teh gram sabha questioned panchayat secretary Prashant Naik as to why he had not registered the resolutions taken at the previous session of the gram sabha. This led to vocal protests at the gram sabha. Sensing that the situation was gradually getting out of hand, mamlatdar Ganesh Navelkar and PI Sudesh Narvekar intervened and tried to pacify the crowd. It was only when they failed in their efforts that the mamlatdar ordered that the gram sabha be adjourned. This provoked the locals attending the aforesaid gram sabha, to demand the dissolution of the Nerul grampanchayat and that an administrator be appointed to oversee its affairs. Locals who had attended the proceedings of the gram sabha with the hope of getting their grievances redressed went home a disappointed lot. In the same breath, locals unanimously resolved to form 'Nerul Bachao Abhiyan' to fight for the genuine rights of Nerul residents. Former Nerul sarpanch Shashikala Govekar, Uday Desai, Shiru Shirodkar were instrumental in spearheading the demand for the dissolution of the Nerul panchayat. Meanwhile similar scenes were witnessed at Pilerne gram sabha over the issue of passing the annual budget. Police personnel had to intervene for restoring order at the meet. Trouble started when Pilerne deputy sarpanch Ramakant Malik turned down the locals' demand of repeating the speech relating to the budget which could not be audible in view of the power failure. However, amidst repeated demands from locals that the passing of budget be postponed by another 15 days, Malik had no option other than to comply with this demand. Pilerne panch members wer ealso grilled by locals over issues like garbage disposal and related matters. ENDS Gomantak Times, Feb 18, 2008.
