Daijiworld Media Network - Margao

Margao, Jul 19: The South Goa District Road Safety Committee convened on Friday to address mounting civic and transport concerns, spotlighting issues like unregulated roadside parking, hit-and-run victim compensation, student transport safety, and stray cattle menace.

Chaired by South Goa Additional Collector Ramesh Gaonkar, the meeting saw a forceful intervention from consumer rights activist Lorna Fernandes, who demanded a coordinated strategy to rein in unplanned commercial expansion. She called for a joint session involving the Director of Panchayats and Director of Urban Development to examine how trade licences are issued, particularly when building plans are approved by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department.

“Local bodies are reduced to rubber stamps once the TCP clears a building plan,” Fernandes said, pointing to the powerless position of municipalities and panchayats. She stressed the urgent need for a legal briefing to clarify the jurisdiction of local bodies in issuing or denying trade licences.

As a result of the discussion, the committee resolved to summon the Senior Town Planner and other relevant officials to its next session for a legal deep dive.

On the public safety front, the committee raised concerns over the rising hit-and-run cases, particularly regarding compensation challenges when perpetrators remain unidentified. Fernandes noted, “Victims can’t be left helpless just because the accused vanish without a trace.” A dedicated committee, headed by the District Collector, will now be formed to oversee victim compensation mechanisms in such cases.

The panel also proposed the formation of school-level safety committees to ensure safer transport for students, regardless of whether they use public or private vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Public Works Department (PWD) was urged to step up enforcement against illegal roadside vendors, especially those operating dangerously close to highways.

Stray cattle, a recurring menace in South Goa, also came under scrutiny. The committee reviewed the progress of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cattle management and sought accountability from concerned departments on actual enforcement measures.

The meeting underscored the need for tighter inter-departmental coordination and urgent implementation of pending road safety measures to protect both pedestrians and commuters across South Goa.