Team Goemkarponn
SANCOALE: In the coastal village of Sancoale, Goa, a tumultuous meeting of the local panchayat on Tuesday highlighted deep-seated tensions and allegations of corruption. The gathering, which was intended to address various local issues, quickly descended into chaos as opposition members and the ruling panel engaged in heated exchanges.
At the heart of the controversy are accusations by opposition panchas that the ruling members are involved in blatant corruption, particularly in the clearance of large bills without proper procedures. Tulshidas Naik, an opposition panch, alleged that the ruling panel had cleared bills worth ₹40 lakh on December 4 and was attempting to clear an additional ₹65 lakh during the latest meeting. Naik claimed that Gram Sevak Oevile Vales was illegally functioning as the Panchayat Secretary and had sent out a meeting notice with a 19-page agenda, which he argued was a ploy to rush through important decisions.
Deputy Sarpanch Darick Vales vehemently denied these allegations, stating that the opposition’s disruptions were hindering the panchayat’s ability to address critical issues such as house tax, construction licenses, and garbage collection. Vales emphasized that all bills were properly included in the agenda and cleared following due procedures. He also pointed out that the opposition’s actions were motivated by a desire for personal gain, referring to their demands as a quest for “Vitamin M” (money).
The meeting was further marred by physical confrontations and the alleged intimidation of opposition members by a crowd mobilized from nearby areas like Zuarinagar. Naik accused the ruling members of preventing him from accessing the minutes book of the previous meeting and of filing a police complaint against him for damaging a book, an allegation he denied.
The ongoing conflict has led to a stalemate in governance, with important files related to local development pending for months. The opposition has written to various authorities, including the Director of Panchayats, the Vigilance Department, the CBI, the Goa Governor, the Prime Minister, and the Home Minister, seeking intervention to halt what they describe as the “dictatorial rule” of the ruling members.
As the standoff continues, the future of local governance in Sancoale remains uncertain, with both sides firmly entrenched in their positions.
