House tax hike, denial of voice spark outrage at Santa Cruz gram sabha

Panaji: The gram sabha in Santa Cruz on Sunday turned stormy when several members were allegedly denied the opportunity to raise their concerns. Sarpanch Jennifer de Oliveira faced sharp criticism from a section of attendees, some of whom wore black bands in protest, demanding transparency and accountability from the panchayat.

Santa Cruz MLA Rodolfo Fernandes, present at the meeting, backed the villagers’ call for transparency.

A major flashpoint was the recent hike in house tax rates. Villagers questioned the increase in residential and commercial rates, alleging it was arbitrary and implemented without proper notification or consultation. The sarpanch said the new rates were in line with neighbouring panchayats: Rs 15 per sqm for residential, Rs 40 for commercial, Rs 3,000 for internal family transfers, and Rs 25,000 for new purchases.

Fernandes said he had spoken to the Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, who assured him the matter would be resolved soon. “I have asked for uniformity in house tax among all panchayats. There are poor people in Santa Cruz who are surviving on DSS pension; they cannot pay so much,” he said.

Members sought transparency on garbage collection expenditure, with the panchayat stating Rs 19,52,000 was spent between April and July 2025 under the sanitation budget. Only two awareness sessions on waste management had been held in the current term.

Questions were also raised over inconsistencies in voter lists, encroachments, illegal constructions, and road ownership. A proposal sought a committee to verify the gram sabha register.

Villager Aditya Parulekar accused the sarpanch of “acting like a dictator” and misusing her authority. “If notices are issued for unassessed taxes, it’s not house tax, it’s extortion,” he said.

Despite protests, the meeting ended abruptly.