Staff Reporter

Margao

It is time to celebrate for the Camorlim panchayat: the state government awarded the local self-governing body for being the ‘cleanest panchayat’ in South Goa district, on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, which was observed on April 24 by the panchayats directorate.

Sarpanch Basilio Fernandes said, “The directorate of panchayats presented this award to us in consultations with officials of the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC). The credit goes to villagers of Camorlim. It is through their support that we have achieved this award for being the cleanest panchayat in South Goa district. I thank all the villagers for this.”

Fernandes informed that for the past two years, the panchayat has been treating wet garbage and collecting dry waste from households coming under the jurisdiction of the local body.

“The government and the waste management corporation acknowledged our efforts by presenting us with this award. I thank them on behalf of the panchayat and the villagers,” he added.

He suggested that other smaller panchayats can also take such steps in waste management, which will be appreciated by villagers.

Deputy sarpanch Raina Dias said the panchayat is working hard to keep the village clean.

“I also thank the villagers for their support toward keeping the village clean,” she added.

Panchayat secretary Nilesh Shirodkar said the people of Camorlim are always cooperative when it comes to cleanliness in the village.

It is pertinent to note that the village panchayat holds a historic record: in its existence of 50 years, no-confidence motion has never been moved against sarpanches or deputy sarpanches, even though most of the sarpanches served two and more terms.

Camorlim, which has a voting population of around 2,400 people according to the latest population census, has 1,164 households.