PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed that 15 panchayats, who have been found not to have set up material recovery facilities (MRF) for garbage segregation, be barred from issuing new construction licences until they comply with orders of the High Court.
When the long-pending petitions concerning solid waste management in the state were taken up, Amicus Curiae Norma Alvares brought to the notice of the court that as per the report dated December 12, 2021, filed by the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC), 15 Village Panchayats -- Gaondongri, Assolda, Xeldem, Naqueri-Betul, Morpila, Kalem, Tivrem-Orgao, Curti-Khandepar, Shiroda, Cundaim, Chinchinim-Deussua, Seraulim, Loutolim, Sarzora and Raia have not set up Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and they do not have any temporary shed for collection and storage of the waste in their jurisdiction.
The High Court had, via an order passed in September last year restrained panchayats that had failed to set up MRFs from issuing construction licences until proper MRFs were constructed and made functional.
“Having regard to the fact that for all this while, these panchayats have not even bothered to set up an MRF, we direct that until the MRF is actually set up in these villages, these panchayats, will not issue any licences for construction from today itself. Such an order is necessary because the panchayats, on one hand, continue to issue construction licences and on the other hand, make no provision whatsoever for collection, storage, and treatment of waste that is invariably generated,” the High Court had ordered earlier.
“It will be the responsibility of the Director of Panchayats to take strict action against such Panchayats and their Office Bearers,” the High Court ruled.
