PANAJI
After exposing the jobs-for-cash racket, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced a clampdown on illegal housing, proposing to disconnect water and electricity supply in line with High Court directives.
“The High Court (High Court of Bombay at Goa) has issued directives that water and electricity should be cut off to illegally built constructions/houses. We have begun doing so and issued instructions to the concerned officials to comply with the Court directives,” he said while addressing a Solid Waste Management meeting at Ravindra Bhavan, Sanquelim, on Tuesday.
Sawant further stated that many illegal structures currently have basic utility services through Health Act provisions, but henceforth, these will be governed by other legislative frameworks to curb misuse.
In a related move, the government is considering amending the Goa Panchayati Raj Act and Municipalities Act to impose heavier fines for improper waste disposal in open spaces.
The CM warned that vehicles caught dumping waste in open areas would also be seized, and companies responsible for such actions could face revocation of their registration.
“Not only will the vehicles be seized, but the registration of violating companies will be revoked,” he stated.
Sawant instructed local panchayats to appoint personnel to monitor littering and enforce penalties. He also announced plans to deploy dedicated garbage collection vehicles in each taluka to strengthen waste management infrastructure.
At the same time, he has empowered VPs to disconnect utilities for residents failing to pay garbage tax. “Panchayats will issue notices to defaulters before disconnecting water and electricity supply,” he said, clarifying that industries are also subject to garbage tax enforcement.
Sawant also expressed disappointment with the local bodies for underutilising funds despite substantial government funding for waste management. He urged VPs and municipalities to make more effective use of these resources.
