Calangute Panchayat Missing Files Case: Youth Activist Demands Investigation

CALANGUTE, GOA: After a local Goan newspaper published a report yesterday stating that hundreds of files and letters of complaints have gone missing from the Calangute Panchayat office, youth leader and activist, Nashville Earl D’souza today demanded a through investigation into the allegations of missing files at the office of the Calangute Panchayat.

According to the Navhind Times report on Wednesday, more than 100 files have gone missing from the Calangute village panchayat office.

Speaking to IndyaTv.in, D’souza said, “When the secretary himself makes allegations that files are missing, one needs to sit up and wonder what is happening at the Panchayat office. This is a very serious matter. If the Panchayat secretary who has taken charge just a month earlier is complaining that files are missing, an investigation must be conducted and responsibility fixed.”

The Navhind Times reported that several complaints were made to the panchayat about files submitted to the office including applications related to constructions, trade licences, applications for regularising illegal constructions and the like are missing from the record room of the panchayat office.

Residents alleged that unauthorised persons were interfering in the administrative work of the panchayat and had access to crucial documents.

Calangute panchayat secretary Arjun Velip told the Navhind Times he had received over 50 similar complaints from the locals. “I have not seen such mismanagement and interference by middlemen in any panchayat. I took charge as secretary of the Calangute panchayat only last month,” he said.

He said it was very shocking to learn that more than 100 files have gone missing, as unauthorised persons were interfering in the administrative work of the panchayat.

Velip told the Navhind Times he had given a warning to the panchayat staff not to entertain any ‘middleman’ or panch members and not to allow such persons to interfere in the working of the panchayat. He said he has already held two related meetings of the staff and added that they have been also instructed about their duties and responsibilities.

Goa Against Corruption, co-convenor Minakshi Shinde said the Panchayat officials are trying to hide or cause to disappear crucial documents, files and papers which can implicate them in corrupt practises.

“Many illegal orders were passed and permissions issued to establishments in the jurisdiction of the Calangute Panchayat on payment of huge bribes. The concerned people including the sarpanch is now trying to destroy this evidence,” Shinde alleged.

The procedure is to call a meeting of the ward members and pass a resolution confirming the decisions taken during the meeting. The meetings have to be minuted and proper records maintained, including objections of members to be clearly noted. All this was not done, Shinde explained.

Like in the case of an illegal restaurant on the Calangute beach – slated for demolition, which was issued an NOC license by the Panchayat secretary last month, without the knowledge of the ward members. The secretary claimed nobody told him about the controversial restaurant structure and he issued the NOC as a matter of routine procedure, but the ward members said no meeting was held and neither did the secretary ask for their inputs. The secretary blamed the sarpanch and the sarpanch in turn said the NOC was issued by the secretary without his knowledge or approval.

D’souza alleged that certain ward members who were stooges of the Calangute MLA were interfering in the working of the Panchayat and manipulating the system to favour their friends.