Digital Goa, August, 10 – High Court has directed five village panchayats, the Mapusa Municipal Council and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) to file affidavits within two weeks on compliance with its directions for removal of hoardings and placards along national highways. The court noted that despite its September 12, 2024 order directing local bodies across Goa to ensure removal of hoardings and placards along poles and those falling in the line of sight on national highways, no compliance affidavits had been filed by the concerned panchayat secretaries or municipal authorities. HC has now specifically sought affidavits from the secretaries of Merces, Chicalim, Agassaim, Penha de Franca and Verna panchayats, whose jurisdictions cover stretches of NH-66 and NH-4A. The Chief Officer of Mapusa Municipal Council and Commissioner of CCP have also been directed to file compliance affidavits. The court also asked the Amicus Curiae to submit photographs and other material showing hoardings or placards along the highways to help it ascertain whether its directions have actually been complied with. The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 24.
