Carambolim gram sabha approves budget, reviews civic issues

Panaji: Carambolim gram sabha on Sunday approved the annual income and expenditure statement for 2025-26 and passed the audit report for 2024-25.

The gram sabha also approved a supplementary development plan and discussed issues raised in the Bal and Mahila gram sabha.

Sarpanch Kusta Salelkar said the points raised will be discussed at length by members.

One of the residents raised concerns about the condition of the crematorium, demanding its upgradation. Salelkar said they will first inspect the crematorium and, after discussion, will decide about its repairs and development.

A resident, John Lobo, said garbage is being dumped in the open, causing unhygienic conditions, especially for the school situated near the waste-dumping site. “Parents of the students raised a complaint, and they blamed us,” said Lobo.

Locals also said liquor bottles are thrown around the Carambolim lake. The sarpanch said they have taken up the issue with the water resources department (WRD), but have not received a response.

“We have sent a reminder to WRD. We hope to take up the cleaning soon,” Salelkar said.