-- Samir Umarye BICHOLIM JAN 30: The villagers of Pilgao today strongly demanded the resignation of all the panchayat body and the Gram Sabha
was called off as there was an uproar over the corruption by the panch members. Today the Gram Sabha of Pilgao Bicholim was called at 10.00 am. Before the Gram Sabha cound begin the villagers sought to know as to where are the two ruling panch members out of the seven member in the panchayat. They asked about the reason for their absence and even after telling that they have submitted a letter to the panchayat the villagers did not stop. They accused them of failing to do their duty and trying to hide from the Gram Sabha. "The four member ruling group is playing hide-and-seek with the villagers as when one is present the other remains absent with the fear to face the villagers" people told. The ex-panch, Ajay Gaonkar raised the issue of the illegal plant that is coming up in Pilgao and asked as to why the work is still going on when the case is in the court. He demanded to know why the lawyer who had to handle the case was changed. It may be stated that since last few months the issue of illegal plant of a mining company is coming up in the village. During the last Gram Sabha it was decided to stop the plant and issue a show cause notice to the company. As per reports the Director of panchayat had also termed the plant as illegal and later it was decided to file a complaint against it. "The panch members were unable to stop the plant and it took more than a month just to click a photo of the plant as an evidence to be submitted in the court" Ajay charged "it only proves that the members are helping the company to set-up the plant" He also sought to know as to why the panchayat body changed the advocate for the case even after it was decided in the gram sabha who should handle the case. "The panch members handed over the case to the advocate who told them that the mining company's side is strong instead of another advocate who had clearly specified that the company did not have some documents and it could be easy for the panchayat to raze the plant." Ajay alleged. At this point the mob became furious and charged the members of involving in corruption. The Panchayat secretary told that the decision of changing the advocate was taken at the monthly meeting of the panch members. The opposition panch, Mahadev Vengurlekar objected to this and told that they were never in the favour of changing the advocate and it was all done by the ruling members. This added fuel to the fire and all the villagers demanded the panch members to resign if they were unable to carry out the progress of the village and fulfill the demands of the people. The mob asked the sarpanch, Sangeeta Dhatkar to show the minutes of her meeting with the advocate and what was discussed which she was unable to produce. At this the villagers shouted out that the advocate himself should be called for the gram sabha. On the issue of resignation the three opposition members showed willingness to resign as they alleged that the sarpanch and other ruling member are not sanctioning any work from their wards but the sarpanch and another members who was present did not accept the proposal. The opposition panch members including Indrayani Usapkar, Mahadev Vengurlekar and Ajay Parab boycotted the meeting and went and set among the mob. The mob later forced the secretary to call off the gramsabha on the condition that the sarpanch, Sangeeta Dhatkar was unable to prove her majority. It was also told that for the next meeting all the ruling memebrs should be present along with the documents needed aganist the mining plant. Indrayani Usapkar, Mahadev Vengurlekar, Ajay Parab, Satish Gimonkar were present for the meeting while Dulo Bhamaikar and Sandesh Govekar failed to attend the meeting.
