CRYING FOR ATTENTION…
When it comes to the panchayat house, the first thing that comes to mind in South Goa is Paroda Panchayat.
The Paroda Panchayat has been deprived of a well-equipped panchayat house for many years.
A request has been made to the education department to build a panchayat house and a hall on top of the closed school at Gudi Paroda.
But due to lack of follow up from time to time, the work of the Panchayat is still stalled, says Sarpanch Deepak Kharangate.
GAURANG PRABHU/ Goemkarponn
MARGAO: The Goa government undertook the task of transforming the panchayats in July 2021 to give a facelift to all the poor and dilapidated panchayat houses in Goa.
However, given the plight of some panchayat houses in the state, the government has yet to reach their doorsteps.
With elections looming, many are hopeful that the stalled work will be completed before the polls.
When it comes to the panchayat house, the first thing that comes to mind in South Goa is Paroda Panchayat.
The Paroda Panchayat has been deprived of a well-equipped panchayat house for many years.
A request has been made to the education department to build a panchayat house and a hall on top of the closed school at Gudi Paroda.
But due to lack of follow up from time to time, the work of the Panchayat is still stalled, says Sarpanch Deepak Kharangate.
During a recent meeting, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant assured that the panchayat file would be approved in the next 15 days, Kharangate said.
For the last several years, all the work of Gudi Paroda Panchayat has been done from one room.
Since the Panchayat does not have space to hold a simple gram sabha, it depends on another place.
The government needs to focus on the status of the Panchayat and build a well-equipped panchayat house for the benefit of the people, not just promises.
The Paroda Panchayat has two rooms with a Panchayat in one room and an electricity department in the other. Inadequate space is also not available for the Panchayat to keep cupboards.
The situation of the Paroda Panchayat has become very dire as the house has been in existence for many years. As the Panchayat does not have its own hall, they have to hold a gram sabha in a closed school. As it is challenging to work in the existing Panchayat, the staff hopes for a new panchayat house.
Earlier, Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias had promised to build a house for the Paroda Panchayat on the site of the sports department at Gudi, while Sports Minister Babu Azgawkar had made it clear that he would provide space for building a panchayat house.
However, the citizens protested against the construction of a panchayat house at Gudi as it would not be convenient for the people of Paroda.
The Panchayat House should be set up in the closed school where the Gram Sabha of the Panchayat is being held. On the upper floor Panchayat, the ground floor is to be given to the power department in the election polling stations and health centres.
Since last year, the Paroda panchayat has stopped charging Rs six to seven lakh through petrol pumps coming under its jurisdiction, forcing the Panchayat to rely on house tax for revenue. In 2012, the sarpanch started charging fees, but now, the municipality is working hard as the charges have suddenly stopped. Even after sending the notice, the petrol pump officials did not explain, said Sarpanch Deepak Kharangate.
The problem faced by the people of Paroda in the rainy season is the bridge over at Paroda. Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that the matter would be taken up when he was the Chief Minister, but the work is still stalled, Kharangate said.
The area is in a state of panic as the bridge is sinking on all four sides during the monsoons, so if the road height is increased on one side of the bridge, people can get a lot of relief on one side during the monsoons, he said.
