Panaji: Municipal councilors who fail to submit their annual assets and liabilities, before the Goa Lokayukta will be liable for disqualification in future as the State government intends to make the submission mandatory by amending the Goa Municipalities Act.
The amended Bill will be introduced during the forthcoming monsoon session of the State Assembly, beginning from July 19.
Talking to reporters, Urban Development Minister Francis D’Souza said that existing Act, which was drafted on the basis of Maharashtra Municipalities Act, need to be amended as per State requirement.
“Under the amendment, we will make councilors more accountable. They will be liable for disqualification if fail to submit their assets and liabilities before Lokayukta,” Minister said.
Every year, the Goa Lokayukta directs all public functionaries, including Ministers, MLAs, Panchayat members, Municipal councilors, ZP members, etc to file their respective statements of assets and liabilities for the financial year that has concluded. Failure to do so, leads to the Lokayukta publishing their names. Several MLAs, panchas, councilors still fail to file their statements.