MAPUSA
In a significant policy shift, the government has ceased financial aid to village panchayats across the State for tackling the persistent issue of garbage accumulation.
The Director of Panchayats, Siddhi Halarnakar, communicated this decision via a memorandum addressed to the Block Development Officers (BDOs), instructing them to direct all panchayats to utilize grants from the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Finance Commission for garbage management within their respective jurisdictions.
Citing the failure of panchayats to effectively utilize central grants, Halarnakar clarified that the State government has discontinued the provision of garbage grants for the current financial year, 2024-25.
This marks a departure from the previous practice wherein financial assistance was extended to village panchayats under The Goa Panchayats (Grants to Tackle Garbage Menace) Scheme 2017.
Under this scheme, all 191 village panchayats were annually granted Rs 2 lakh each to support door-to-door collection, segregation, and disposal of waste, including dry and plastic waste.
Panchayats were categorized based on their location, including those situated along the coastal belt, in proximity to the airport, suburban areas, and those with annual incomes up to Rs 25 lakh.
The overarching objective of the scheme was to empower panchayats to efficiently manage garbage within their jurisdictions by adopting measures for collection, segregation, treatment, and disposal.
To access these funds, panchayats were required to pass a resolution during their fortnightly meetings and subsequently submit detailed proposals to the BDOs.
However, the government's decision to withdraw financial aid underscores a shift in approach, signaling a greater reliance on decentralized funding mechanisms provided through the Finance Commissions.
This move places greater accountability on panchayats to utilize available resources effectively in addressing the pressing issue of waste management, thereby aligning with broader objectives of fiscal prudence and decentralized governance.
