To Goanet - At the hearing yesterday (Mon, March 31, 2008), I presented some more photographs to the Justices, including some shot by JoeGoaUk. Chief Justice Swantanter Kumar was not amused.
r News reports of the day's proceedings: ***** >From O Heraldo: http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=1923&cid=26 CCP under fire over garbage litter BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 31 The Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) came under heavy fire from the High Court on Monday over sanitation and garbage litter in the city. Commenting on CCP inaction, the Court directed the Chief Secretary to convene a meeting on April 1 and decide exactly what will be done to improvise the situation. A Division Bench comprising of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice N A Britto also instructed the Government to place on record, minutes of the meeting while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Rajan Parrikar. Parrikar who appeared in person told the Court that though the city is in dire need of sanitation facilities, CCP has remained indifferent. There is defecation in public places, garbage dumped into River Mandovi and encroachments everywhere, but no action has been forthcoming because Corporators are hand-in-glove with law breakers, he alleged. The petitioner produced photos showing Panjim roads and public places that are dirty. The CCP counsel told the Court a door-to-door garbage collection system has been introduced. However, there is no garbage disposal site and affidavits have been filed explaining the situation, he said. Not content with the explanation offered by CCP, Justice Swatanter Kumar said we dont want your affidavits, tells us what you have done. According to the CCP it approached the Government in 2004 for acquisition of land for collecting the disposable garbage from the city, but the Government is yet to acquire the same. ***** >From The Navhind Times: http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=040127 HC asks Chief Secy to submit report on sanitation of city NT Legal Correspondent Panaji, March 31Â The division bench of the Bombay High Court comprising of the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and Mr Justice N A Britto today has asked the Chief Secretary to hold a meeting pertaining to cleanliness and sanitation of Panaji city and submit report to the court. The order was passed after hearing the public interest petition filed by one Mr Rajan Parrikar complaining about the unhealthy and unhygienic conditions prevailing in the city. It may be recalled that the petitioner had informed the court that Panaji had become an outdoor toilet with public defecation and urination being common sights along the waterline from Caranzalem and Miramar right up to the Patto bridge. He had also pointed out the CCP-sanctioned encroachment of the Mandovi river promenade, which has been converted into a hawking zone with rampant proliferation of bhelpuri stalls thereby not only encroaching upon the pedestrian space but also contributing to litter, garbage and plastic waste. The court's attention was also drawn to the noise generated from blaring music from the cruise ships in the evenings along the Mandovi river, causing undue hardships to both, children and adults. *****