Latest news with #GoaMunicipalitiesAct
Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Animal deaths in accidents rise in fiscal year 2024-25, jumping to 582 from 508
Panaji: In the financial year 2024-25, a total of 582 animals died due to injuries sustained in accidents, marking a rise from 508 such deaths recorded in the previous year. Data from recent years shows fluctuating figures with 246 deaths in 2020-21, a peak of 666 in 2021-22, followed by 509 in 2022-23, and 508 in 2023-24. The latest figures highlight a renewed increase in animal fatalities in accidents, raising concerns over road safety. This was shared by minister for animal husbandry and veterinary services Nilkanth Halarnkar in response to a question by Margao BJP legislator Digambar Kamat. Halarnkar said that Goa govt has implemented a multi-pronged action plan to control stray animals, particularly dogs and cattle, on public roads. 'Govt has adopted the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, and Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, under which local municipal bodies, with the help of accredited welfare organisations, are mandated to run continuous sterilisation and vaccination camps for stray dogs,' Halarnkar said. He said, 'These programmes aim to contain the uncontrolled growth of the stray dog population and reduce rabies risk.' In 2024-25, a total of 12,089 stray dogs from across the state were sterilised. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'The local bodies are responsible for impounding stray cattle from roads, beaches, and fields, and transporting them to cattle pounds,' Halarnkar said. Under Chapter XX of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968, the management of stray cattle in the municipal areas is the mandate of municipal councils. Under Section 112A-F of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the management of stray cattle in rural areas is the mandate of panchayats. The Goa Stray Cattle Management Scheme (Amended) has helped impound 8,944 cattle. A total amount of Rs 21.6 crore was released as a grant in aid during the year 2024-25.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Wards in class A municipal councils to be increased
Panaji: The state cabinet on Monday granted its approval to amend the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968, to increase the number of wards in class A municipal councils from 25 councillors to 27 in order to cater to the increased number of voters within the jurisdictions of these councils. The bill proposes to amend the act to curtail delays in granting completion certificates to buildings and permission to occupy and use them, while also promoting the implementation of guidelines for Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) to grant impetus to ease of doing business in the state. State govt will amend the act wherein the words 'within one month', 'seven days', and 'one month' will be substituted by 'within 15 days', 'five days' and '15 days', respectively. This is so that the person constructing the building shall, within 15 days of completion of construction, send a written notice of completion to the chief officer, who shall begin inspection within five days of receiving such a notice and shall grant permission to occupy the building within 15 days, or refuse to grant it if there is a violation of the act, bylaw, or any order passed.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Licensing flaw makes unsafe Margao structures shakier
Margao: The South Goa collector's recent order to demolish two unsafe buildings in Margao exposed a loophole in the municipal licensing system. There is a possibility that many other condemned structures not only continue to house businesses with valid trade licences, but also accommodate new ones by granting fresh trade permits, creating potential death traps for unsuspecting owners and customers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) served notices to 56 buildings in the town under Section 190 of the Goa Municipalities Act, a provision that empowers municipal authorities to deal with structures 'in ruins or likely to fall'. Yet, the council's automated online licensing system may have granted trade permits to businesses operating within these buildings earmarked for demolition. The root of the problem lies in the digitised trade licensing process. Once applicants upload the required documents online, licences are processed and issued within days, with no mandatory site inspection. This provision, designed to ease business operations, has created a situation where businesses can legally operate in buildings that may have been marked as unsafe. Former chief officer Gaurish Shankhwalkar found this loophole while processing the revocation of a trade licence for a ground-floor unit in a building marked for demolition on Isidorio Baptista Road. The business owner claimed complete ignorance of the building's condemned status, highlighting how the current system fails to flag public safety threats. 'Section 190 of the Goa Municipalities Act serves as the primary tool for municipal authorities to address dangerous structures. It requires owners or occupiers to 'pull down, secure, remove or repair' buildings deemed hazardous. However, the provision's effectiveness is undermined when the same authority permits commercial activities within these condemned spaces,' a business lawyer told TOI . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Adding to the concern is a discrepancy in official records. While the MMC is known to have issued notices to 56 buildings under Section 190, only 21 structures made it to the official list of unsafe buildings submitted to the district collector last week. Locals said the discrepancy means that scores of potentially dangerous structures remain off the official radar. Shankhwalkar had directed the technical department to place clear identification marks on all unsafe buildings. The move was aimed at preventing future licensing errors. However, since his transfer, the directions haven't been acted on. A senior MMC official said that a supplementary list of pending cases of unsafe buildings was being prepared and will be submitted to the district collector soon.
