BY ROQUE DIAS | NT
MARGAO: Salcete’s block development office (BDO) is in shambles with the office files and documents lying on the floor.
Some files and documents are tied in soiled white cloth pieces and dumped on the old corroded cupboards, racks and even old wooden tables, much to the dismay of the visitors.
There are two block development officers (BDOs), Mr Sugun Velip and Mr Uday Prabhudesai working here in the chaotic atmosphere with the staff, who have no space even to move.
The office structure is also old and there are no proper doors or windows to it. The engineers’ room is also congested and an electrical kettle, used for boiling water, has been kept at the entrance.
The additional director for panchayats also sits here in this congested office to hear cases, mostly, of those villagers residing in South Goa.
There is no proper space for the petitioners, respondents, or visitors, to sit inside or outside the office.
Sources in the BDO revealed that the officials in the past and those presently working had on several times written to the Directorate of Panchayats to shift this office at a better place, but all in vain. Sources blamed the former panchayat ministers, Mr Subhash Shirodkar and Mr Babu Azagaonkar for not taking keen interest in solving the "genuine problem."
Interestingly, the move to shift this office to a new building at the SGPDA, near KTC bus stand, some years ago, had also fizzled as, according to the sources, the concerned ministry responded mentioning that "the process is on’’ and due to financial weaknesses, it could not buy the office immediately.
"The BJP, Congress and others ruled the state, but none of the panchayat ministers bothered to give a good block development office for Salcete. What instead given were, all empty promises. Now, BJP again came to power and we got another panchayat minister, but never know whether we would get a good office here for Salcete,’’ fumed an official while speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’.
He added that Salcete taluka has 30 panchayats and that on an average, daily 100 people visit the office.
"There is no space for them to enter, and we could entertain them for the paucity of space," he added.
Interestingly, the officials have developed the "let-it-be’’ attitude and at times, they never bother about the visitors.
The block development officers, however, were not ready to comment officially.
Unofficially one of the block development officers said, "There are some important documents, which need proper protection so they are kept in the office,’’ pointing to one of the cupboards placed in the office.
