PANAJI
In compliance with the directives of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, the Sarpanch of St Lawrence Village Panchayat deposited Rs 3 lakh in the office of the Court on Wednesday with an undertaking to establish a fully operational Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for garbage management by June 29.
The Division Bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice B P Deshpande had imposed Rs 5 lakh on the St Lawrence Sarpanch to be paid in two parts “ Rs 3 lakh by Wednesday, and the balance Rs 2 lakh within 15 days. The balance amount, as assured by the Sarpanch to the Court, will be paid by June 29.
A similar directive has also been issued to the Sarpanch of Bhati VP with Rs 3 lakh to be deposited by Thursday and another Rs 2 lakh by June 30. The Sarpanch, during the hearing on Wednesday, requested reasonable time to establish a permanent MRF. The High Court will consider this request on June 21.
The Court has issued various legislations and rules in the past as well requiring the VPs to have MRFs. Around 13 VPs were last year asked to stop issuing construction licenses until the facility is built while quite a few were imposed penalties and officials were summoned to the Court.
Meanwhile, the Arambol VP has come under the radar when Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) submitted to the Court that it is disposing non-biodegradable waste in open areas. The Sarpanch and Secretary of the coastal VP have been summoned to appear in court on June 19.
In another development, the high court has lifted the restraint on Colva VP wherein it was directed to not issue construction license until permanent MRF is set.
