Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The ‘Diploma’ legislation, which gives the Administrator of Comunidades the authority to enforce land use restrictions, was approved by the Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday. Any authority, including the Town Planning Department, PDA, Municipal Corporation, Gramme Panchayat, or Municipality, is prohibited from approving or issuing no-objection certificates for any land use other than the original purpose under this new law, which supersedes an ordinance that was enacted in October. It essentially forbids any departure from the original intent and includes clauses that place severe limitations on the use of comunidade lands. The Ordinance on the Comunidade Code, which was championed by Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate and went into effect last October, will be replaced by the bill.
Another government sponsored bill passed by the House on Friday was moved by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant which empowers Assistant Engineers of the PWD to take penal action against any violation of the Goa Water Supply Act as well as any violation of rules or orders thereunder.
The power to impose a fine of Rs 10,000 for domestic water consumption and Rs 50,000 for semi-domestic, commercial and industrial purposes will now vest with the Assistant Engineer instead of the Magistrate.
