Sarpanch left five times adjourned sixth meeting of Gram Sabha after declaring it "ended sene die"
Goa Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan
Ruckus at Benaulim gram sabha over affidavit on garbage
Published on: July 12, 2010 - 01:04
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MARGAO: The Benaulim sarpanch, Ms Carmeline Fernandes on Sunday left the gram sabha after declaring it "ended sine die" following some allegations against her regarding the affidavit filed in the High Court in connection with the village garbage issue.
However, no sooner did she leave the place, Mr Menino Fernandes took over as the chairperson and concluded the meeting after some fifteen minutes.
According to panchayat secretary, Mr Dilip Chari the meeting was adjourned earlier for the five times and this was the sixth sitting.
Earlier, much hue and cry was raised over the affidavit filed by the panchayat in the High Court by the gram sabha members saying that the correct picture was not provided in the affidavit. While the sarpanch insisted that nothing wrong was mentioned in the affidavit regarding the garbage problem faced by the villagers in Benaulim village. Discussions went on for a long time on the subject and there was heated exchange of words between the sarpanch and the gram sabha members. The situation came to a boiling point when a gram sabha member asked the sarpanch to apologise on the subject, to which she refused.
This was followed by some comments and counter comments between the gram sabha members and the sarpanch. The sarpanch then left the place and Mr Menino Fernandes took over as the chairperson.
When the sarpanch, Ms Carmeline Fernandes was contacted, she said that she uttered the words "the meeting is ended sine die" very clearly adding that she would like to see these words recorded when she attends the office.
The secretary when contacted said that he has recorded these words adding further that there was a demand from the gram sabha members to continue with the meeting and hence it was continued with Mr Menino Fernandes taking over as the chairperson.
Some reliable sources, when contacted on this development, opined that if the gram sabha members wished that the meeting be continued it can be continued with another chairperson.
The gram sabha members talking to ‘The Navhind Times’ said that Mr Menino Fernandes took quick decisions on the issue of garbage adding that he has suggested that each household in the village should be responsible for disposing its own garbage and that only plastic should be collected and kept outside to be cleared by the panchayat.
The plastic thus lifted from the entire village will then be taken care of by the panchayat, disclosed Mr Menino Fernandes to this daily.
He, however, said that big business houses etc will have to have their own treatment plants or arrangements to take care of the garbage. The gram sabha members did not agree to the suggestion that open spaces could be utilised to take care of the garbage problem in the village, and suggested that open spaces should be meant for various recreational facilities.
Meanwhile, the sarpanch, Ms Carmeline Fernandes said that two sites which were earlier proposed for taking care of the garbage were rejected by the gram sabha. However, Mr Menino Fernandes pointed out that the residents of the respective wards rejected the two sites and not the gram sabha.
The deputy sarpanch, Mr Stanley Fernandes along with three other members did not attend the meeting. The Benaulim panchayat has 11 elected representatives.
Meanwhile, the panchayat secretary informed that one member Ms Maria Fernandes, who was the sarpanch of this body for sometime, has resigned some days back.
Now the strength of the elected members of this panchayat is only 10 members, he said.
Mr Menino Fernandes informed that within 15 minutes he disposed of several questions adding that the gram sabha members appreciated his role in completing the meeting.