PANJIM: in the last cabinet meeting of the year, the State Cabinet gave powers to the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) to be the sole and ultimate decision-making body to resolve problems arising out of solid waste management.
The State Cabinet on Friday granted its approval to transfer duties and powers of the High Level Task Force and Monitoring cum Working Committee on Solid Waste Management to the Corporation, which was set up three months ago.
“The cabinet has decided to dissolve the high-level task force constituted by the government and monitoring cum working committee on solid waste management formed by the Department of Science and Technology,” Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said after the cabinet meeting.
He said that the government set up the GWMC to ensure and secure the establishment and orderly development of facilities such as management of solid waste and other waste in the State, with a special focus on the coastal belts, rural areas and any other area, to assist in the organisation and scientific management of such facilities.
“Hence, we confer all the rights of the two committees to the Corporation. The powers, rules and responsibilities of these two committees are now transferred to the Corporation,” Parsekar added.
In another decision, the Council approved signing of a tri-partite agreement between the State Government, Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the safeguard of payment for the supply of power by CPSUs power plant and authorise RBI to address the payment directly from the Central plan assistance or shares of central taxes, loan and grants due to Goa in case of defaulting payment cover supply of power, beyond the stipulated period. “The decision is basically for the smooth flow of power and payments,” Parsekar explained.
The Cabinet also accorded its approval to the draft agreement to be executed by the State government and Steelpa Tech Pvt Ltd to whom the contract for supply, installation and commissioning of 150 data processor based automatic milk collection units to 150 village level dairy co-operative societies.
“In the first phase, we have asked them to provide the service in 28 villages each in Sattari and Ponda,” the Chief Minister said.
The Council of Ministers also resolved to accord approval to annual increment and monetary benefits to be granted to all the co-terminus staff appointed in the office of Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition, Advocate General, by computing the number of years of continuous service rendered by them in their respective posts and by nationally fixing their pay from April 1, 2001 or from the original date of appointment.
“The benefit would be extended subject to the condition that the employees, shall submit an undertaking stating that they shall not claim for regularisation and seniority in any government department,” Parsekar said.
The Chief Minister said that the cabinet has decided to hike the professional fees of government counsels before district courts, sub-ordinate courts and quasi-judicial authorities. The cap of Rs 8000 will now be increased to Rs 30,000 and for quasi judicial council from Rs 5000 to Rs 15,000.
