MAPUSA
Cabinet Minister Mauvin Godinho said the new State government has no choice but to implement the enhanced fine as per the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act, 2019 as Goa was on the radar of the Supreme Court monitoring committee for implementation of new laws.
Godinho, on Monday, also said that the financial position of the State was in a precarious condition and the previous government could manage to keep the momentum of development only because of the double engine government at the State and Centre.
“If you do not break the laws then why do you have to pay the fine? If you wear your helmet, who will stop you and why will you pay a fine. If you do not wear a helmet, don’t take your licence and are caught drunk while driving then you definitely need to pay the fine,” said Godinho, who was the transport minister in the previous government.
He said the decision to implement the new fines and new regulations from April 1, 2022 was taken by the earlier cabinet.
“It was long overdue. Other states have implemented the law way back in September 2019. The SC monitoring committee is monitoring whether new laws are implemented or not. They had given us a last chance,” he said.
He further informed that if the State failed to implement the law then there were chances that the State would lose future funds from the ministry of surface transport.
On the rise in fuel price, the new minister said that the government in the State and the Centre were helpless as international crude price was on the boil.
The former transport minister, who was representing the State in the GST council, stated that Goa’s financial situation was not very encouraging and it was only due to the financial package from the Centre that the State could salvage some pride.
“On the revenue front…It’s a difficult situation in the State. We have been able to carry the momentum of development only because of the assistance of the Centre. Even now, we will try to get additional finance from the central government,” he said.
He further said that the State will make a serious effort to recover wherever revenue is due to the government.
