From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network - Goa

Goa, Nov 30: After a gap of almost two years, Goa Panchayati raj ministry is working on paying the share of octroi due to various panchayats which will help the grass root level bodies to tide over the financial crisis.

Various panchayats including those in the mining belt have been waiting for octroi grants, that are charged on the sale of petroleum products within their limit. Some of the panchayats had even resorted to press conferences demanding that octroi grants should be paid immediately.

State Panchayat minister Rajendra Arlekar said he is aware that for over one and half years back the octroi grant has not been given to the panchayats. “Their grants would be released shortly. I am aware that some of the panchayats are reeling under financial crisis,” Arlekar said.

Amongst the various panchayats, those in the mining belt are worst affected. Due to seizure of mining activity in the last three years, the sale of petroleum products has gone down drastically reducing the amount of grant.

Arlekar said he has already discussed with chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar about designing a policy to compensate the panchayats in the mining belt due to reduced octroi collection. “We will have to think about panchayats in the mining belt in a different way. We will have to amend the rules. I have already taken up the matter with the chief minister,” the minister said.

He added, “It is a fact that there has been an impact on octroi collection in these panchayats due to stoppage of mining activity.”