the goan I network
PANAJI
Speaking to media persons along the sidelines of an event, D’Souza said the one-man inquiry commission into the functioning of the GMC had revealed there was a issue regarding responsibility.
“Suggestions from the report were given to us and they are working on them. But who do we punish in this case. This is why we need to give autonomy to the institute. Right now, there is no responsibility given to anyone at all. That’s why people are not putting their minds into work. These problems arise because there is no responsibility among those working there,” he said.
The minister said there was a flaw in the functioning of the administration at the hospital and that the detailed report would be expected in 15 days time.
N D Agarwal had been put in charge of an inquiry commission to look into the problems faced at the hospital following repeated complaints from the general public. There was a constant complaint of lack of water despite the Public Works Department (PWD) supplying water in addition to the water tanks.
In his preliminary report submitted to the government, Agarwal pointed to a misuse of water by 13 families living in the campus. The presence of a canteen and a contractor using the water was also noted.
He called the families living in the campus as being illegal and suggested taking action against the illegal occupants by issuing eviction notices before they could lay claim to the structures. It was also found that a contractor working in the hospital’s premises was illegally tapping water, to which the report suggests conducting an audit of all the construction sites.
Responding to the report and its suggestion, D’Souza admitted to problems plaguing the hospital adding that autonomy would solve the issue but that it would take some time. “We are working on the autonomy, both administrative and financial. It has not happened for 55 years. To do it in one year will be difficult. But we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
‘Govt willing to make changes to
ordinance on illegal structures’
PANAJI: Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza on Tuesday said the government was open to making changes to the ordinance on the Goa Regularization of Unauthorized Constructions if there were problems with it.
The minister’s statement comes in response to a public interest litigation filed by social activist Kashinath Shetye at the High Court of Bombay at Goa to issue a stay on the ordinance.
Speaking to media persons, D’Souza said that though he had personally not seen the contents of the prayers of the petition, the government would consider making changes to it, especially with the upcoming assembly session.
“If there needs to be any rectifications, we’ll do it. The ordinance will come up for passing in the assembly. At that time, we will see all the amendments that need to be done and then go about with it. There will be discussion at the assembly. If there are problems there, we will change. We are open to making changes and Assembly is the right place to debate,” he said.
Shetye along with a group of social activists moved the High Court to seek a stay on the ordinance of the Act issued by the State government.
In the petition, Shetye cited another order from Maharashtra for a similar act. The court in that order refused to side with the government saying legalizing of illegal houses without following law of land in force was a crime.
