PONDA: In a marathon and stormy gram sabha of village panchayat of Bandora, the members demanded the dissolution of the elected body over corruption issue and passed a resolution to that effect and consequently asked the panchayat secretary to forward it to the higher authorities.

This meeting was the continuation of the adjourned gram sabha of July 25, held at the panchayat hall, Bandora. This is the first time in the Bandora village panchayat history that a gram sabha started at 10 a.m. and ended at 3.45 p.m. The villagers were seen vociferously questioning the elected representatives over the hill cutting incident that was reported in the ward number 3.

The villagers alleged that the panchas and sarpanch had accepted money from the builder and as such he carried out the hill cutting beyond the specified area and shaped up his project. It was also said that the sarpanch, Mr Damodar Naik, misguided the villagers when latter asked him for information about the said project and that raised the suspicion of the locals over the conduct of elected representatives.

Though these angry villagers demanded the dissolution of the elected body over the charges of corruption, the panchayat secretary, Mr Sushant Naik, informed them that he is powerless to decide on the issue and stated that he can only forward it to the higher authorities. Interestingly, few members, brought a coconut on the table of the sarpanch and asked him to declare that they did not accept money.

However the villagers were explained by the panchayat secretary that it was an incorrect act on their part and asked them to question him over any issue and he would satisfactorily answer them.

He had a torrid time to control the noisy crowd. While, Mr Govind Gaude, Mr Janu Naik, and few other demanded the resolution on the dissolution of the body, Mr Santosh Naik, and others disclosed that there is no provision in the Panchayati Raj Act by which the gram sabha can ask for the dissolution the panchayat body.

The allegations have to be proved and with just mere allegations such a decision cannot be taken by the senior officials, they added.

At this point of time, panchayat secretary took opinion from the senior (BDO) and informed that he can only forward such resolution to the senior officials.

Much heat was generated over the issue. However, the sarpanch heard them all and as things came to normal, he continued the gram sabha which went till 3.45 pm. Lot of decisions were taken on
the village development.