PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa on Tuesday pulled up the Goa government, the Goa State Pollution Control Board as well as several local bodies for their lackadaisical approach towards setting up garbage management facilities and directed that the officials extend all possible help to panchayats and municipal bodies in order that they have the systems in place at the earliest.
When the matter, which has been pending before the High Court since 2007, was taken up for hearing, the High Court took on record the report by the committee it had constituted to physically inspect the status of compliance of its previous order with regard to setting up material recovery facilities for dry waste, as well as composting facilities.
The report, however, exposed the reality of the progress -- or lack thereof -- made by the State government and local bodies towards setting up these facilities in each village.
“The report also exposes the sad state of affairs when it comes to issues of waste management in the State of Goa. The various legal provisions concerning waste management have not been complied with by the Panchayats and the Municipal Councils/Corporations, whose primary duty it is, to comply with the same. This is despite clear and categorical directions issued by the Courts from time to time for ensuring compliance,” the High Court bench of Justice M S Sonak and M S Jawalkar, said.
“The general attitude is to list several excuses for non-compliance including excuses like non-availability of sanctions from bureaucratic authorities or non-availability of land or non-availability of finances. Some of the authorities, we regret to note, have reported compliance, when actually, there was no compliance,” the High Court noted.
According to the report filed, 13 village panchayats out of 57 that were inspected by the committee do not have a material recovery facility while the 55 out of 57 village panchayats do not have any composting facilities.
We direct the 13 village panchayats out of 57 who do not have a material recovery facility to ensure that such facility is made available latest by 26.04.2021. The Director of Panchayats as also Secretary (Panchayats), Government of Goa will be personally responsible for ensuring that this direction is complied with by these 13 village panchayats. If these village panchayats have any issues relating to provisions or finances, it is these two officers, who will redress such issues, so that there is compliance. These two officers should file a report of compliances on or before 28/04/2021,” the High Court ruled.
The High Court also directed its committee to also make a report on the status of compliances or rather non-compliances by the remaining134 panchayats in the State of Goa.
“The Director of Panchayats and the Secretary, Panchayat, to extend all possible cooperation to this committee including, by way of providing transportation, etc. to the members of such committee so that there is no further delay in the matter of compliances. The committee will also place on record its suggestions, including suggestions for providing a single facility for a cluster of panchayats. These suggestions may be proposed in the report to be filed on or before 28.04.2021,” the High Court said.
The High Court also sent out a warning to municipalities that they too would receive stern instructions if they do not comply with the orders of the High Court.
