SANGUEM
The gram sabha of the Village Panchayat of Uguem held on Sunday witnessed heated discussions over the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the panchayat to a basalt quarry unit in the village without placing the matter before the gram sabha.
Raising strong objections, gram sabha member Francisco Xavier Carvalho grilled the panchayat secretary and members, questioning the authority under which the NOCs were issued.
He demanded clarity on the specific provisions of the Panchayat Raj Act that empowered the panchayat to grant such approvals without consulting the gram sabha.
At the outset, the panchayat secretary maintained that the office had the authority to issue NOCs without bringing the matter for discussion before the gram sabha.
However, when pressed further, the secretary failed to cite any specific provision supporting the claim, leading to dissatisfaction among the members present.
Later speaking to the media, Carvalho asserted that it is mandatory for the panchayat to place matters related to issuance of NOCs for such projects before the gram sabha.
Emphasising the authority of the village assembly, he stated that the gram sabha is supreme in the functioning of the panchayat and not the secretary or the panchayat body.
Carvalho further warned that if necessary, he would approach the Crime Branch and other competent authorities to seek intervention in the matter and ensure that the NOCs issued to the quarry unit are withdrawn.
