The duties to be performed by the Village Panchayat Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee have been highlighted in the Herald (Refer perspective page 2/April 23, 2016).
According to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and Rules (Goa Act No.14 of 1994 and Rules) 3rd Edition May 2012, the list of Standing Committees that every Panchayat may constitute by election is clearly specified in sub-section (1) of section 63 of the Act (refer page 26). The Village Panchayat Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee finds no place in the list of Committees mentioned in the Act. Are there any amendments to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and Rules (Goa Act No.14 of 1994 and Rules) to include the Village Panchayat Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee in the list of Committees? If so, have the duties of the Village Panchayat Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee been included in the above referred amended Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and Rules?
Rapid urbanization has caused serious civic problems to citizens in Goa. Very soon, attempts will be made to have village sewerage infrastructure management and village disaster management committees to regulate development projects for rapid urbanization of villages. Due to poor implementation, regulatory approach has failed to resolve existing civic problems in Goa.
It is interesting to read that one of the duties of the Village Panchayat Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee is to develop a data base of vehicles in the village. What is the purpose of this activity? Is it to stop rapid urbanization of villages? Or is it to implement urban transportation plans for promoting unwanted development projects by destroying existing peaceful village settlement areas in Goa?
Due to massive influx of migrants/tourists, the vehicles are increasing in Goa and as a result, road accidents are on the rise. If you widen the roads for implementing urban transportation plans, more unwanted housing/commercial projects will be added, resulting in more vehicles and more chaos. Road widening is not a solution by itself to reduce traffic congestion, if more vehicles are going to be added on the roads.
To resolve the traffic congestion problems, the unsustainable development projects must be immediately stopped through proper notifications. There is an urgent need to prevent man-made disasters. Prevention is better than cure.
