Panchayat blocking Saligao development, says MLA
TNN 3 October 2009, 05:13am IST
PANAJI: The Saligao BJP MLA Dilip Parulekar has blamed the village
panchayat of Saligao for blocking his developmental works in the
village.
Parulekar told TOI on Friday that the village panchayat did not
co-operate in his initiative to repair the village market building. He
also said that the panchayat had deliberately allowed kiosks on road
widening areas after he had initiated road improvement works. "If ever
there is a worst market in Goa, it is the Saligao market building. It
is so dilapidated, no one knows when it will fall. And if there are
casualties, I don't know what answer the panchayat will give," he
said.
The first-time MLA said that when he got elected, he sought the
village panchayat's co-operation to repair the market building. He
also won the support of PWD minister Churchill Alemao, who promised to
undertake the repairs under RDA funds.
Parulekar claimed that a sum of Rs 18 lakh was even sanctioned for the
ground floor. That is when the panchayat suddenly developed cold feet,
which Parulekar suspects, was due to political interference from some
quarters. He said that due to his followup, RDA even sent two
reminders to the village panchayat, but till date nothing has moved.
The Saligao MLA had plans to construct a one-plus-two structure for
the market building. "We don't have a library in Saligao. I had even
convinced north Goa MP Shripad Naik to provide MPLAD funds for the
library on the first floor so our youth could use the facility. But
that is not happening," Parulekar said.
The MLA is also hurt that the village panchayat allowed three kiosks
near the Aula junction on the Mapusa road after he had initiated road
widening work. Parulekar insisted that he started the road widening
work first and when the panchayat realised, overnight they brought the
kiosks on the road widening area. To add insult to injury, the village
panchayat has now given electricity connections to the kiosks,
Parulekar said. "They are illegal because they are on road widening
areas. Forget road widening, we cannot even do drainage there now," he
added. When Parulekar asked the panchayat about the kiosks, they said
the comunidade had allowed the kiosks. On its part, the comunidade
said that it is the panchayat which has to decide whether or not to
allow the kiosks. "They are just passing the buck to one another,"
Parulekar said.
He also accused the village panchayat of allowing another six illegal
kiosks on road widening area of the Chogm road near St Anne's chapel
and two kiosks on the roadside at Mollem bhat. Interestingly, he said
that at least two of the kiosks near St Anne's chapel belong to
current panch members. The two kiosks at Mollem bhat are creating
traffic congestion, he said.
"Whatever our political affiliations, we must remain united for the
development of our village. They should not have allowed the three
kiosks near Aula junction and block the road widening work," Parulekar
said.
The Saligao sarpanch Bholanath Sakhalkar has denied all charges.
Interestingly, he said the panchayat had sent a request for funds to
repair the market complex to both, the chief minister and the RDA
through former Saligao MLA Dr Wilfred de Souza. When asked why it was
not sent through the present MLA, Sakhalkar said it was sent long ago.
"We are not blocking anyone. If the MLA can do it, he should do it,"
Sakhalkar said.
Regarding the kiosks, Sakhalkar said that if the comunidade, which is
the owner of the land, gave permissions for the kiosks, the panchayat
cannot deny permissions. The sarpanch insisted that the panchayat had
issued notices to remove the kiosks some time ago and that the
comunidade had confronted the panchayat over the issue.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/goa/Panchayat-blocking-Saligao-development-says-MLA/articleshow/5082486.cms
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Frederick Noronha :: +91-832-2409490
Writing, editing, alt.publishing, photography, journalism
Blog: http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com
Photos: http://photosfromgoa.notlong.com
Goa,1556: http://goa1556.goa-india.org
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