SOUTH GOA PUBLIC INTEREST ACTION GROUP (NGO) Benlix Bldg, Opp Fatima Convent Margao 403 601 GOA Tel : 0832 ? 715269 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----------------------------------------------------------------- QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES CONTESTING THE GOA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS - 30 MAY, 2002 Members of the Legislative Assembly are expected to legislate on beneficial legislations to improve the quality of life of the people . Our belief therefore is that ambiguity, loopholes, amendments to existing laws translation or enactment of new laws and placing the right persons strictly on merit by ones worth not birth is the essence of good governance. Some of the common grievances faced are listed below. Are those seeking re-election able to explain why they failed to solve these problems? Or, for those seeking their first term, have they taken note of these issues? ****************************************************************** Land filling, cutting of hills, is rampant nowadays It is a cognizable offence under sec 17A of Town & Country Planning Act but the authorities being mere planning bodies have to depend on the police to file a case and this becomes time consuming . If powers were given to Revenue authorities the problem could be solved.In the case of change of use of land from one purpose to another viz agriculture to nonagricultural purposes without permission is a violation under sec 33 of the Goa Daman & Diu Land Revenue Code 1968 but regularization on payment of fines or restoration of land to original position is provided for to be decided by the Collector. If it is a cognizable offence problem could be solved. Most of the irregularities in building construction witnessed in the cities towns and villages is because for a consideration the certifying authorities viz Chief Officers/Muncipal Engineers of these structures overlook the gross irregularities. Occupancy certificates issued by the Municipalities cannot be revoked. Both the Municipalities Act & Goa Panchayat Act provides for regularization of the illegal structures . If necessary amendments to revoke Occupancy certificates and delete the provision of regularization are made these problems could be checked. Occupiers of apartments, restaurants eating houses etc release/discharge "waste waters" on streets and open drains causing nuisance and health hazards. Municipalities spend crores of public funds in clearing up this nuisance. The menance has reached the villages . The Municpal Act provides for measely fines .The Sub divisional magistrates and health authorities have only recently been empowered to take cognizance of this nuisances. The fines if enhanced would have served as a deterrent ; Also if the underground sewerage network was completed on priority lakhs of rupees spent on fumigation and threat of malaria filarial prevented. The High Court judgement 29-11-1999 is clear on this issue . Encroachments on road widening areas and foothpath have been checked following the 18/12/2000 High Court order yet the menance continues during and after office hours. If Chief Officers and concerned officials were pulled up for dereliction of duties the menance could be rid permanently Rise in vehicular population specially two wheelers i.e. 75 % has been the cause of fatal deaths, traffic congestion ,.pollution and related health hazards. Sprouting up of way side vehicle workshops in residential and busy thoroughfares are yet another nuisance. If there was a mass transportation policy this exhorbitant vehicle population could be curbed. Parking is a perennial problem in major cities of the State. Major apartment complexes never provide parking spaces or if provided convert them later to other uses. In 1987 a model byelaws ( fees for vehicles occupying Municipal land was enacted} and roads open spaces unused busstands earmarked thereafter. If only pay parking as in the rest of the country is introduced this perennial problem could be solved atleast during peak hours. If pedetrianisation of roads is done mishaps would lower. Plastic has been the cause of the latest nuisance . Setting up of 'No Plastic Zone' and in phases of much o three months , a not less than 20, 40, & 100 microns use of plastic permitted this nuisance could be avoided . This instead of spending lakhs in pre-monsoon clearing of drains. The menance of stray dogs has been a cause of grave concern. Waste from the dustbins provided in municipalities and other areas if cleared after noon and during nights instead of alternative days at morn . If provision of licences for domesticated dogs and their vaccination is enforced strictly this menance could be solved. If wayside mobile cart eateries are prevented from operating on road sides and they are covered under the Goa Prevention of Food Adulteration Act like other eating houses hotels etc; the nuisance of health hazard can be checked. Also stray dog menance avoided. Hawking zones if provided and markets decentralized and provided as per the Municpality and Village Panchayat act the nuisance of roadside hawking would be avoided Obtaining the extracts of birth, death , & marriages is a tedious process if microfilming and computerization is taken up on war footing the problem could be solved. Hoardings have been increasing and multiplying along the national highways. The Supreme Court order on distance to be maintained without causing a traffic hazard is clear. If these were removed or shifted much of Goa?s scenic beauty could be enhanced. Fragmentation of land is rampant atleast in Talukas of the Old Conquests. The execution and registration of Agreement to sell, Deed of conveyance, mutation , subdivision of property , partition, survey , obtaining NOC under Town & Country Planning Act , conversion sanad , plan approvals from TCP & PDA?s besides permission for building construction from Municipalities & Village Panchayats is a time and money consuming excercise . If a single window instead of multiplicity of officials is provided the problem could be solved. Citizens Charters written in recognized official languages updated periodically if made compulsorily available at all shops at costs and on the Government website . If public oriented department offices are properly organized avoiding shuffling people from one end to another. If all forms are computerized and designed to check ambiguities and simplify the same. If all written applications are recorded in the inward register with serial number date and initials of the clerk in legible ink., and acted upon within three days instead of filing them without action much of the harassment to the citizens could be avoided. If every voter on the electoral roll is made to compulsorily ensure that he has an election identity card and this is made the basis of providing all types of assistance one requires from the State proper records could have been maintained of the services rendered and the information made public on the State website to avoid complaints of nepotism favouritism and corruption Today one sees lopsided development. Every MLA aspires to be a Minister to bring development in their Constituency . If policies were framed for every issue with the help of well meaning persons NGO?s qualified personnel etc. there would be no necessity of resorting to political expediency over economic consideration. It is a fact that knowledge of English in this informative era is a must no matter what politicians preach and never practice. If Konkani was made a compulsory subject , and parents given the choice of language of education for their wards. Grants given to schools situated within five kms of every village, town ,city whether English Konkani Marathi Kannada or Urdu medium. Much of the harassment to parents caused at the time of admissions , rush to city schools, menance of tuitions mental torture to the child could be avoided. If the State has its own state of art medical equipment well maintained and in use in its district Hospitals and primary, urban health centres the physical hardships caused to sick patients moving to outside the State and siphoning of the mediclaim amount by others could be avoided. Unemployment problem is soaring educated technically qualified youth are taking up to crime in every village town and city . If agriculture horticulture traditional occupations cottage industry were provided remunerative prices for their produce and assistance in cash and kind to those deserving with insurance coverage to offset unforeseen circumstances or post retirement needs influx of migrants and their inheritant problems could be avoided and unemployment solved.. If the State makes out an unemployment dole for all youth on the rolls of employment exchange and not provided a single call within the fist three years of enrolment, much of their frustration could be avoided. NRI's are the backbone of the economy as witnessed in the Old Conquests , yet our NRIS are treated as second class citizens. They are pushed from pillar to post and sucked of their petrodollars. If a NRI cell is instituted to provide one window clearance for setting up industry. Their views experience harnessed for improving our own technologies. If they are given top prority in attending to all their land and other matters with special assistance from Departmental Heads the state would have excelled in all fields. If the Right to Information Act be implemented in its letter and spirit and information ordinarily provided within a week corruption would be considerably avoided. If officers are pulled up for dereliction of duties and punished when strictures are imposed by the Courts accountability would be introduced and administration turn responsive to peoples need. If Village Panchayats, Zilla Panchayats Municipalities are given full powers to function and administration decentralized at Taluka level there can be all round development laws are implemented in both letter and spirit., much of the pressure on Courts could be avoided. If ground water resources are augmented, if rivers springs lakes forests wildlife fisheries and man is in harmony with nature and any violation checked with stringent and exemplary punishment the Earth could be a better place to live in. Some litigants predecease before their disputes are redressed because neither the status of the individual viz aged orphan widowed age factor is given a consideration nor the nature of dispute . If there was some criteria inplace much of the mental agony caused to citizens could be avoided. PRESIDENT 26/05/2002 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? 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