PANAJI
The Goa government has told the High Court of Bombay at Goa that it is constituting a committee to regulate the issue of hoardings along highways and major roads of the State.
“This matter came up before the High Court and we told the court that the State government has constituted a committee headed by a Revenue Secretary to take a policy decision regarding these illegalities and what provisions or legal scheme or legal action could be taken that will be recommended by this committee and the government will take a decision based on that,” Advocate General Devidas Pangam said.
As per the notification issued by the Goa government, the State has set up a committee headed by the Revenue Secretary and includes the two collectors, the two superintendents of police as well as the superintendent of police (traffic), the director of municipal administration, the director of panchayats, the chief engineer (roads), the chief town planner, the commissioner of CCP, the project director of the NHAI a representative of the All Goa Hoarding Owners Association and an eminent lawyer.
At the previous hearing, the High Court had asked the authorities including the CCP, the NHAI the District Collectors to list out the action that is being taken against the hoardings.
Hearing a suo motu writ petition that was initiated way back in 2007 (15 years ago), the High Court directed the State government, municipal corporation, municipalities, panchayats, local authorities and the National Highway Authority to place on record the current status of all the existing hoardings in their respective jurisdiction with appropriate details as to which of these hoardings are authorised and complying with the regulations with specific remarks that although permitted they are not in any manner a public nuisance.
