Gram Sabha can't direct; only recommend: CM
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 12 April 2013 15:18 IST
Gram Sabha cannot decide to issue a construction license or withdraw the license as it is a recommendatory body and not the deciding authority; Goa government cleared its stand today.
During a healthy debate on the issue, chief minister Manohar Parrikar also said Gram Sabhas are stretching beyond limits the powers it has under 73rd and 74th amendments.
He also clarified that licensing authority is the panchayat council and not the town and country planning department.
Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardesai had raised the issue of an advisory issued by the town and country planning department to the panchayats, in view of several Gram Sabhas passing resolution regarding construction licenses.
The advisory sent by the town and country planning department to the Directorate of Panchayats stated that Gram Sabha has no powers to deal with issuing or withdrawing construction license.
“The Gram Sabha can definitely debate and recommend and its decision should be followed by the panchayat council, but not the town and country planning department”, argued Parrikar.
Why do we need to elect panchayat councils if everything would be decided by the Gram Sabha, asked the chief minister.
He also clarified that the town and country planning department deals with only technical clearance and not to granting or revoking licenses.
“It’s a prerogative of the panchayat council”, he said.
The issue, during the debate, was raised by Valpoi MLA Vishwajeet Rane.
Parrikar agreed to Rane’s suggestion to issue the advisory once again and clarify all the matters as the advisory is more confusing than giving clarity on the issue.
Agreeing to Vijay’s opinion that the Gram Sabha is a watchdog, Parrikar said the Gram Sabha should function as a pressure group on the panchayat council.
“But the ultimate decision should be taken by the panchayat council”, he clarified it once again.
The chief minister also said he would make a provision while sending draft Regional Plan 2021 to the people, defining limits within which the panchayat council or the Gram Sabha could decide certain aspects of the plan.
BJP MLA Pramod Sawant pointed out that handful of people gather at the Gram Sabha and force the panchayat council to take a decision or reverse the decisions taken earlier.
“I would prefer villagers taking final decision on the RPG 21 by involving all the people into voting rather than the people present at Gram Sabha deciding it”, reiterated Parrikar, promoting his concept of referendum.
Panchayat Is The Mini Goa Assembly. Local MLA Is The Speaker And Panchayat Members Are The MLAs. Two Parallel Government In Goa (Panchayat and Goa Assembly). Both Are Making Laws. Better To Merge With Each Other And Become One (Goa Government). GOANEWS Must Do Survey And Ask Goans “DO THEY WANT PANCHAYAT OR SCRAP IT?”.