PANAJI
The State government on Monday notified the Goa Provision of Water Supply (Amendment) Bill, 2025, granting powers to the PWD assistant engineer to impose fines and decide cases of unauthorised water usage.
According to the notification, the assistant engineer can now impose a fine of Rs 10,000 for domestic water consumption and Rs 50,000 for semi-domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes for any contravention of the provisions of the Act.
These powers were earlier vested with a judicial magistrate.
The amendment was introduced in the winter session of the State Legislative Assembly to simplify the process for imposing penalties/ fines for any contravention of the provisions of the act or rules or orders, by giving powers to the assistant engineer concerned of the PWD to ensure quicker and timely action.
Further there is also amendment to Section 6 of the act was carried out given the decriminalisation exercise and was passed in the legislative assembly. Further, rules, viz, the Goa Provision of Water Supply Rules, 2023, were also framed and notified in the official gazette.
The government also notified the Goa Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) (Amendment) bill that permits clinical establishments, which have not obtained provisional or permanent registration, to apply and obtain permanent registration within one year.
