Decision taken by 5-4 votes; sarpanch says permission given as per govt rules; opposition panchas demand special gram sabha
A police force deployed outside the Dhargalim panchayat office to ensure law and order.
PERNEM
In a significant development which has already divided the village, the Dhargalim panchayat on Monday passed a resolution by 5-4 votes to grant permission to the Sunburn festival proposed in the village later this month.
The ruling group said the decision to grant permission to the Sunburn festival had been as per government rules, adding that the festival would provide business and employment to locals, besides revenue to the panchayat.
On the other hand, the opposition panchas demanded a special gram sabha to discuss the issue.
Anticipating tension in the area, a police force had been deployed outside the panchayat office to ensure law and order.
During the panchayat meeting, five members of the ruling group moved a resolution to allow Sunburn festival in the village and later got it adopted by 5-4 votes.
Those who voted in favour of the resolution included Sarpanch Satish Dhumal, Deputy Sarpanch Deepti Naroji, Arjun Kanulkar, Daji Shirodkar and Mohan Vir, while those who opposed the resolution were Bhushan Naik, Aniket Salgaonkar, Amita Harmalkar and Preeti Kanulkar.
The ruling group said they had no objection to convene a special gram sabha to consider the views of the people.
When contacted, Dhargalim Sarpanch Satish Dhumal confirmed that the panchayat had approved the resolution to permit Sunburn festival in the village.
To a query on whether they had been pressurised to give permission to permit the Sunburn festival, Dhumal replied in the negative.
“There was no pressure on us from anyone. We have given permission for this festival as per government rules. Locals will get employment, people will get to put up stalls at that place, taxi motorcycles and other traders will get business, and the panchayat will get revenue as per law, so we have allowed it,” said Dhumal.
On the other hand, former sarpanch and present panch member Bhushan alias Pradeep Naik said the resolution passed by the panchayat was invalid as it was passed without taking people into confidence.
Panch Aniket Salgaonkar claimed that a resolution opposing the Sunburn festival had been passed at the last gram sabha.
“So, what happened to that resolution,” asked Salgaonkar.
On Sunday, a major split over the Sunburn festival proposed at Dhargalim was evident in the village, after Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar and a number of villagers vehemently opposing the festival, while ruling members of the panchayat and another group of villagers voicing their support to the festival.
