26 coastal village panchayats in Goa have been made party in a PIL on garbage disposal

PANJIM: The 26 coastal village panchayats in the state have been made party in a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning garbage disposal by the High Court of Bombay at Goa and they have been asked to file their reply within 2 weeks.

Further, the coastal village panchayats have been asked to file an affidavit by the Court in regard to identification of land for garbage disposal site or obtaining administrative approval for the site in accordance with Rural Garbage Disposal Scheme, 2005, even as the municipal councils were given six weeks time to file an affidavit.

The Court has asked the Goa government and Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has to come out with a scheme of recycling within six weeks.

Meanwhile, the Director of Panchayat, in his affidavit has disclosed the status of the applications filed by 189 village panchayats in the state. While 38 village panchayats have applied for authorization, 65 village panchayats have been granted authorization, 62 village panchayats applications have been rejected on various grounds, 11 village panchayats applications are pending decision and 51 village panchayats have not applied for authorization.

Acting on a High Court order of September 18, 2007, a memorandum was issued to all Block Development Officers (BDOs), who were directed to immediately convene a meeting of all the village panchayats which have not identified the land sites and all those panchayats whose proposals have been rejected by GSPCB, so as to direct them to immediately identify the land sites and forward the same to GSPCB for obtaining clearance.

The BDOs were asked to submit the action taken by them in respect of those proposals that have been cleared by GSPCB in processing the proposals seeking administrative approve acquisition of land. Further, a circular was issued directing village panchayats to implement the Rural Garbage Scheme, 2005.

Incidentally, Amicus Curiae Norma Alvares brought to the notice of the Court that the affidavit reveals that till date the Director have not been intimated about any fresh proposals made by village panchayats and GSPCB seeking its approval in respect of sites for disposal of waste nor have they received from any village panchayats, who have obtained clearance from GSPCB, an proposal for administrative approval.