HC to 15 panchayats in Goa: No construction nods till you have material recovery facilities

PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday restrained 15 panchayats from issuing construction licences till they construct material recovery facilities (MRFs) and make them functional.
“It will be the responsibility of the director of panchayats to take strict action against such panchayats and their office bearers,” stated the division bench comprising justices Sadhana Jadhav and Manish Pitale.
The court passed the directions after the report filed by the Goa Waste Management Corporation specifically stated that 15 village panchayats have failed to set up MRFs and don’t have any temporary facility for collection and storage of waste.These are the panchayats of Gaondongrim, Assolda, Xeldem, Naqueri-Betul, Morpila, Kalem,Tivrem-Orgao, Curti-Khandepar, Shiroda, Cundaim, Chinchinim-Deussua, Seraulim, Loutolim, Sarzora and Raia.
The high court also directed that unpaid fines of Rs 5,000 each by nine panchayats be paid within four weeks personally by the sarpanches of Kalem, Netolim, Rivona, Cana-Benaulim, Loutolim, Carmona, Sao Jose de Areal, Navelim and Colva. The fines were imposed via an order dated February 10, 2021, for failing to comply with directions to set up the MRF and composting facility.
“It is reiterated that if it is found that the said sarpanchas were not personally responsible for non-compliance, then suitable orders can be passed permitting the said sarpanches to recover the amount from the panchayat funds,” the high court stated.
In the case of Nerul, the MRF has been constructed and made functional, but there was a representation received from the villagers of Nerul objecting to it being set up close to a school.
“It appears that the said objection raised by the villagers of Nerul has been considered and the GWMC has reported that the MRF is in terms of the order of this court. In view of the same, it is recorded that the village panchayat of Nerul has complied with the directions of this court. Accordingly, the interim order restraining the village panchayat of Nerul from issuing construction licences stands vacated,” the high court stated.
The court was told that the village panchayats of Amona and Arambol have set up MRFs and made them functional, and directed the corporation to conduct an inspection of the MRFs and place a report.
CCP filed an affidavit stating it has been complying with the requirements of the Goa state pollution control board. The court asked 13 municipal councils to file affidavits on compliance within three weeks.
A resident of Sancoale has raised certain issues concerning illegality in construction of MRF by the Sancoale village panchayat and the high court has given the panchayat an opportunity to respond.