PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed the Sarpanch of Morjim to remain physically present in Court to explain why the panchayat is yet to set up a material recovery facility (MRF) despite several directions from the High Court.
Hearing the long pending garbage disposal petition, the High Court also directed the Director of Panchayats to also immediately inquire into the issue of non-compliance with the Court directions and submit a report by next date "fixing the responsibilities for non-compliance.”
“The Sarpanch and Secretary of this panchayat to remain present in the Court on the next date. Before this date the Sarpanch and the Secretary to file affidavits showing cause as to why action should not be taken under the Contempt of Court Act,” the High Court bench of Justice M S Sonak and R N Laddha ruled after they were informed by the Goa State Pollution Control Board that the Village Panchayat Morjim has not set up an MRF as yet.
The sarpanch of Aldona -- Ashwin D’Souza who was present in Court assured the Court that “MRF facilities will be set up and even made operational within 15 days from today.”
“On the next date, D'Souza will have to remain present in the Court, in case MRF is not set up. On that date, he will also have to file an affidavit explaining the reasons for non-compliance despite repeated directions from this Court and despite repeated assurances from this panchayat about completion of work. If we find that reply is not satisfactory, we may have to consider whether this is a case of deliberate disobedience of the orders made by this Court from time to time,” the High Court also said.
The High Court has pulled up several village panchayats for failing to set up material recovery facilities to deal with dry waste collected from the village and had warned that contempt proceedings would be initiated against those panchayats that fail to comply.
