Team Herald
PANJIM: The State Cabinet on Wednesday deferred a decision on the implementation of Chapter XIII (offences, penalties and procedure) in respect of Amendment Act 32 of 2019 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, following objections by ministers.
Speaking to the media after chairing the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said, “There was no decision on the implementation of the new Motor vehicle Act.”
However, sources in the Cabinet revealed that Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral opposed the implementation of the Act even though Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho was pushing for it.
“Where is the infrastructure to implement the Act, we see potholes, people are dying of accidents, the roads are really in bad condition,” were argument put forth by the two ministers, sources said.
The ministers said that first the infrastructure has to be got in place and only then implementation can be done.
The proposal of the Department was to implement the amended version of Chapter XIII as envisaged by the Central Government Act.
Transport Department said the fines are not aimed to generate revenue but are an instant and effective deterrence for control of violations and better to administer as compared with the prosecution process.
“Revenue from fines for the year 2019-20 is Rs 12.52 crore collected by Transport and Police Department. After implementation of above mentioned schedules in respect of revision of fines/penalties in Goa there is likely increase in revenue by way of fines/penalties at the same time reduction in overall violations and improved traffic disciple is expected,” the department said.
