MARGAO: The Majorda panchayat gram sabha on Sunday resolved to discuss the village development plan in detail at the next gram sabha.

The villagers have asked the sarpanch, Ms Visitation D’Silva to place the development plan before the gram sabha for a thorough discussion.

Stressing that the development plan is a ‘serious matter’ which ought to be discussed at length, a member suggested that the sarpanch make it a point to furnish all the details of the plan to the gram sabha and hold a discussion on it before submitting the same to the government authorities. The sarpanch readily agreed to this.

There was also a discussion on the BPL list; the sarpanch read out 120 names, who are registered for the BPL schemes. However, some members wanted to know whether proper verification of the claimants was done, to this others said that those who raised such objections should come forward and furnish details about the persons if they had doubts about the veracity of their claims and then file complaints with the authorities concerned.

It was also argued that by raising unnecessary objections, the deserving candidates should not be deprived of the schemes under the BPL category, adding that there was a need to create proper awareness about the schemes among the villagers.

An issue of tax to be levied on bicycles and bullock carts came up for discussion wherein it was pointed out that students too have bicycles under some government scheme and so it would not be fair to tax the bicycle owners, particularly, the student community. Some members felt that the gram sabha resolutions should be debated at the panchayat body meetings and a progress register of such resolutions be maintained in the panchayat.

However, some members pointed out that the gram sabha should pass only such resolutions which are maintainable by law of the land.

A resolution was also passed asking the panchayat to construct proper drains to prevent flooding at Badem in Utorda. A villager wanted that law and order should be properly maintained by the police and a detailed report be submitted to the panchayat by them regarding various types of cases occurring in the panchayat jurisdiction.

The members also passed a resolution to see that proper precautions are adopted at the level crossing; the PWD was asked to act keeping in mind the safety of the pedestrians in general and students in particular.

Ms Visitation D’Silva informed about the development works done in the village and added that the panchayat was concerned about the health of the villagers further adding the health department had been asked to take necessary steps to keep vector borne and water borne diseases at bay.

For road safety and proper traffic management, the villagers resolved to form a traffic control committee.

The gram sabha members also raised the question as to why Majorda was excluded from the scheme of the central government to arrest soil erosion whereas Utorda was included. Over this, the sarpanch promised to look into the matter by writing to the Department of Water Resources.

Inspection report of the accounts for the year 2008-09 also came up for discussion. In the report, the deputy director of accounts has pointed out certain discrepancies; over this, the villagers advised the sarpanch to instruct the secretary to guide the panchayat well.

The report has directed the panchayat to remit liabilities outstanding such as income tax, royalty, and VAT to the concerned budget in the government treasury without further delay. The security deposit/EMD remaining/outstanding of more than three years should be treated as lapsed deposits and credited to the panchayat fund, it has advised the panchayat.

It has been also pointed out that the figures adopted for the preparation of the budget are imaginary and fictitious, adding that the village panchayat should be more realistic in framing the budget estimate, adding further that there is variation in the budget estimate and actual income and expenditure, which is pointed out as being ‘huge’.

The report has termed the budget for the year 2008-09 as defective. It has also been pointed out that there is no transaction from 1/4/08 to 04/04/08, adding further that note to this effect has not been taken on the cash book.

The report has asked the panchayat to make more efforts to recover the outstanding taxes by invoking the provisions of the Panchayat Raj Act.

It also states that the village panchayat has leased out 6 shops premises on rental basis and that the arrears outstanding may be recovered by issue of demand notices.

It is also brought to light that the panchayat purchased street light material worth Rs 1,98,825 and that the accounts of all material purchased recorded and issue of material also indicated pole wise but the secretary has not signed the register.

Mentioning that the annual action plan is not been prepared by the panchayat and submitted to the zilla panchayat every year, the report adds that it should be noted that the annual action plan is ‘very important’ for the overall development of the village pointing out that the panchayat should frame the annual action plan well in advance and submit the same to the zilla panchayat.

It is also pointed out that CCA was paid to the panchayat staff in excess of their entitlement and also that a separate pay bill register was not maintained, adding further that the Provident Fund account of the village panchayat staff has not been opened.

It is also observed that the security deposit register is incomplete and that balances outstanding of previous year and also of current year are not recorded.