TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft policy on unauthorized religious structures on public places, as per the directives of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court in its order in the special leave petition had directed all the States to frame a state policy on the prevention of unauthorized construction of temples, churches, mosques or gurudwara on public streets, public parks or other public places as well as the regulation of already existing construction of religious nature in the above premises.
The state governments policy formulated a methodology by which it would deal with unauthorized religious structures at public places and framing guidelines for removal, relocation and regularization of existing structures as well as prevent unauthorized construction of religious nature in public places.
The policy calls for committees to be constituted at state level, district level and taluka level to decide and deliberate on upon the structures and implement the policy.
The state level committee will be headed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, district level committees will be headed by respective collectors and taluka level committees by the deputy collector and sub-divisional magistrate.
“We are doing this as per Supreme Court guidelines. It is applicable to all: Hindu, Muslims, Catholics as well as all others,” the chief minister Manohar Parrikar said while announcing the policy.
He said that they would differentiate the structures on the basis of those which can be retained and regularized; those which can be removed – one without relation and the second with relocation.
The policy has a provision to empower the state level committee to waive of fixing the value of land to be recovered from the concerned managing committee ort the interested parties as the case may be on a case to case basis.
Other decisions: 206 were posts sanctioned as per National Fire Advisory Council Norms. Out of the 509 posts short, 260 sanctioned. There were originally 818 posts.
– Two new members added to SPCA (DA Gomes former MD Aspire HR development, and Surendra Kerkar, senior manager, Bank of India, as per SC guidelines)
– All contract employees in government departments to get five years relaxation in case they get an opportunity to be absorbed.
– Equal work; equal pay. Contract and permanent employees to get paid same amount. This will affect around 5,500 to 6000 employees and entail an expenditure of approximately Rs 5 crore.
– Science and Technology department to be made nodal department for creating common/mixed garbage treatment facilities. GSIDC nominated as executing agency.
– Reduction in taxes on transport vehicles: From Rs 50 per seat for stage carriers to Rs 40; and from Rs 250 to Rs 200 for those registered in Goa and from Rs 1200 to Rs 800 for vehicles registered outside Goa.
