Power of Government to issue directions

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any provisions of this Act, or in any rules, regulations, notifications, orders or in any decree or judgment of any Court, or in any law for the time being in force, the Government may, in appropriate cases, by order, direct any authorities, local bodies, statutory functionaries, or any other functionaries discharging public functions,— (a) to grant, supply, provide and ensure supply of potable water, electricity, sanitary convenience or such other essential services, so declared by the Government under the Goa Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1988 (Act 20 of 1989) or under any other law for the time being in force, to any person, house, structure, hut, factory, area, locality; (b) to remove forthwith or within such period as the Government may specify in the order, any filth nuisance, offensive trade or matter, sewage, or any object causing or likely to cause any disturbance to human senses or to public health, from any land or portion thereof, house, hut, structure, locality, river front, riverine land, port area, seabed, sea , river or nullah, anywhere in the State. (2) The Government may empower any of the following authorities, by a special or general order, to perform its functions under sub-section (1), namely:— (a) Health Officer of the concerned area; (b) Chief Officer of a Municipal Council or the Commissioner of a Corporation, as the case may be; (c) Director of Health Services; (d) Collector of the District; (e) Secretary to the Government, dealing with Public Health Department. (f) Director of Panchayats; (g) Project Director of Rural Development Agency (h) Mission Director of Swachh Bharat Mission; (i) Any other authority as deemed fit by the Government. (3) Upon the issuance of an order under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) by the Government, every authority, local body, statutory functionary or other functionaries and every person thereof referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), shall be bound to comply with the same and provide and facilitate the provision of potable water, electricity or any other essential services, as the case may be, and for this purpose, every authority, local body, statutory functionaries or other functionaries and every person thereof, referred to in sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), shall have all powers to lay necessary lines, cables, pipes, poles, pipelines and to provide necessary infrastructure, subject to the provisions of sub-section (4) hereof: Provided that if any order issued by an authority empowered under sub-section (2) in respect of the nuisance referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1) has not been complied with within the stipulated period, then, the authority empowered under sub-section (2) may order any statutory person or body to comply with such order within such further time as may be specified in the order and recover the cost incurred in removing such nuisance from the person responsible for such nuisance as an arrears of land revenue under the law for the time being in force. Provided that before making order for grant or supply of potable water, electricity or other essential services, the authority making such order shall ensure that the occupier of the premises has complied with the safety and sanitary measures to the satisfaction of such authority. (4) (a) In the event of any private right being affected or dispute having arisen, or any person, owner or occupier being entitled to any compensation, either under the Electricity Act, 2003 (Central Act 36 of 2003), the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (Central Act 1 of 1894) or any other law for the time being in force, rights of such person to determine, claim and receive such compensation shall remain unaffected. (b) In the event of any dispute as regards land, building, apportionment, encroachment, including legality or illegality of structure or occupation of any structure by any person or any question related or incidental thereto, such dispute, lis, proceedings, right, privilege shall remain unaffected and shall not prejudice any person in any way whatsoever. (c) Providing water supply connection, electricity supply connection or any other essential service, shall not in any way be taken to have regularized, validated or legalised any such structure, premises, house, hut, area or occupation of or by any such person, as an order under sub-section (1) is relatable to all matters of health only.