PANJIM: Minister for Panchayats Mauvin Godinho on Friday admitted that despite providing financial support, the panchayats are “lethargic” towards garbage management.
Addressing the media, Godinho also admitted that the panchayats do not have the expertise and infrastructure to ensure scientific management of garbage, generated by the village.
“Most of the panchayats are lethargic in maintaining and picking up garbage and keeping Goa clean and green. Somehow efforts are not put in by the panchayats, as we had expected, despite the fact that there is not a single panchayat that gets less than Rs five lakh towards garbage management,” he said.
Minister also said that with no expertise in place, government was forced to direct Block Development Officer (BDO) to monitor whether there is effective scientific garbage management.
He also said that Material Recovery Facility (MRF) is also been built in each panchayat through State government funds.
Godinho was clarifying following the allegations from panchayats that their powers have been taken away to issue construction and occupancy licences.
“We are issuing guidelines that all the applications are brought at the BDO level for scrutiny. When new projects come up, lot of garbage is generated and if we don’t take the responsibility, then, who will? We are thus streamlining the process. There is no question of taking away powers of the panchayats,” he said denying the same.
The Directorate of Panchayats had recently laid down restrictions on the issuance of construction licences and occupancy certificates to multi-dwelling and commercial projects in panchayat jurisdictions until the panchayats comply with Solid and Liquid Waste Management Rules.
Godinho said that directions have been issue following matter before High Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT).
