VASCO
Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho on Friday warned that panchayat bodies not working to tackle garbage as mandated by the Panchayati Raj Act would be liable for strict action.
Godinho was speaking to reporters during a press conference in his constituency office in Dabolim after the High Court had issued directions to all panchayats in the State to resolve all garbage-related issues.
The High Court had also directed panchayat bodies to identify garbage segregation and garbage treatment plant sites and to further clear any pending files regarding garbage in the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
Asked about his reactions to the HC directives, Godinho said: “Panchayat funds for garbage had been hiked in an effort to tackle the garbage issue. We have already taken up the garbage issue in a big
way under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.”
“We have also increased funds to panchayats to tackle garbage issues and while earlier panchayats around the airport would receive Rs 1 lakh, we have increased it to Rs 9 lakh.”
“We have also increased the amount to panchayat near the markets to as high as Rs 7 lakh and other panchayat bodies get up to Rs 5 lakh. We are giving them a lot of funds to tackle the garbage issue.”
“If panchayat bodies don’t work to resolve the garbage menace, are not involved in door-to-door segregated garbage collection and have not identified a garbage site, it means they are not working and we will take stringent action against such panchayats,” warned the minister.
He said he would also direct the Director of Panchayats to issue a new circular by Monday based on High Court directives.
