OPPOSE THE AMMENDMENTS TO PANCHAYAT RAJ ACT.

If at all the Panchayat Raj Act in Goa needs any amendment, It should be only to give effect to the 73rd Constitutional Amendment and nothing else. During the mega projects opposition agitation the Goa Panchyat Raj minister shri Azgaonkar is on record speaking in favour of the builders lobby who have destroyed Goan villages by mindless concretization. The minister blemished the protestors as anti development people . In my opinion If Goan villages are to be developed it should be first developed to improve the lives of the Goan villagers in terms of water supply, Electricity, garbage treatment, sewerage, Health, education, sports facilities, safe roads, local housing and faster judicial remedies. Protection of rivers, mountains, hills and disliting of water bodies and measures to improve agriculture and maintenance of environment and ecology of this beautiful state which are natures gifts to us should have been our major concern. Mere approval of construction of residential buildings by ruthless destruction of environment for the benefits of outsiders cannot be termed as development. This type of development has only depleted the existing resources and made local Goan life unbearable and miserable but has only enriched the pockets of our Ministers and our beaurocrats because their attitude speaks for themselves.

The Bill introduced by the minister to empower the V. P. Secretaries, by amending Sec.47 to execute the orders of the BDO, Dir of Panchyats, Deputy Dir of Panachayats and other so called higher up beurocracy in the Administration who are under the direct control of the Government / Ministers smacks of ulterior motives and is meant only to defeat the very purpose of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which the Congress propagates as their dream legislation by the Late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi on Panchayati Raj meant to give absolute powers to the Gram Sabha’s of the grass root Bodies to plan their own future. Addition of new Section 244C is also uncalled for. If at all any additional legislation is required it should be towards appointment of an Appellate Authority to be appointed under the guidance of the High Court to deal with disputes of Gram Sabha Resolutions and powers . If the Congress fails to listen to us then now is the time of election we can teach them a lesson for their double standards. Goans can you hear? Wake up Please.

Orlando S. A. Da Silva
Member V. P. Carmona and a member of Carmona Citizens Forum who opposed the Rahej’as in Carmona.