Flags fund misuse, calls for stricter financial discipline
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government is willing to transform all panchayats in Goa into 'smart panchayats,' integrating technology and modern infrastructure to enhance governance.
MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said that panchayats must ensure that residential projects with more than 24 flats are granted approval only if they include functional sewerage treatment plants (STPs), stressing that local bodies have the authority to deny permissions at the initial stage if such systems are not in place.
Addressing sarpanchas and panchayat members at a Panchayat Raj Day function in Panaji, Sawant said the directive is aimed at strengthening wastewater management and preventing environmental issues arising from large-scale developments.
He added that effluent treatment plants (ETPs) must also be part of such projects to ensure compliance with environmental norms.
The Chief Minister also emphasised the need for financial transparency in panchayat functioning, urging elected representatives to maintain proper records and ensure judicious utilisation of funds. He said accountability at the grassroots is essential for building public trust and improving delivery of development works.
Highlighting the State’s broader vision, Sawant said the government is willing to transform all panchayats in Goa into “smart panchayats,” integrating technology and modern infrastructure to enhance governance, transparency and service delivery in rural areas.
Raising concerns over spending patterns, Sawant noted that funds of up to Rs 50 lakh allocated to panchayats for revenue generation were often diverted towards works such as gutters and paver installations.
He advised local bodies to prioritise essential infrastructure like public toilets and community facilities instead of undertaking non-essential or festival-related projects, stressing the need for long-term planning.
On waste management, the Chief Minister said the State will enforce stricter regulations, making it mandatory for all contractors to be registered with the Goa Waste Management Corporation.
He added that a tracking system has been introduced to monitor garbage from collection to disposal, ensuring accountability. Warning against illegal dumping, Sawant said strict action will be taken against violators as well as establishments engaging unauthorised contractors.
Emphasising sanitation, he said maintaining cleanliness at the village level is key to ensuring a cleaner State. “If villages remain clean, Goa will remain clean,” he said, calling for greater cooperation between panchayats and the government.
The announcements are part of ongoing efforts by the State government to strengthen grassroots governance and promote sustainable development across Goa.
