Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday urged panchayats not to spend money on building gutters in villages. Instead, he encouraged them to use state grants to construct wedding venues or banquet halls that can generate revenue.
Revenue generation over beautification
Speaking at the National Panchayati Raj Day programme, Sawant said the rural development agency provides funds to many villages, sometimes as much as Rs 30-50 lakh. However, many panchayats use these funds to install paver blocks in the name of beautification. He lamented that nobody wants to use the money for projects that generate revenue for the panchayat. Last time, the government gave Rs 50 lakh to panchayats, but many chose to distribute the money among wards. Panchayat members took Rs 5 lakh each and built gutters in their wards, he noted.
Self-sufficiency through revenue projects
Sawant said the government provides grants to village panchayats so they can build revenue-generating projects and become self-sufficient. He cited the example of the Taleigao panchayat, which built an air-conditioned banquet hall that is rented out for weddings and events for as much as Rs 3 lakh per day.
“Don’t waste money by building gutters. Let the water percolate into the ground. Don’t put concrete there,” said Sawant. He criticized the practice of beautifying spots for Ganesh visarjan with paver blocks, noting that such spots are used only once a year for about 30 minutes.
Promoting green energy
Sawant also urged panchayats to promote green energy and solar energy with the help of the Goa Energy Development Agency. He emphasized the need for sustainable development and responsible use of funds.
