Recently the Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho announced that village panchayats in Goa would receive revived garbage collection fund from next financial year. Accordingly, panchayats would be divided in three categories. The small panchayats would get a minimum fund of Rs 5 lakh, panchayat within township generating huge garbage will get Rs 7 lakh and those under no-fly zone would receive Rs 10 lakhs.
It is absolutely necessary that the panchayats make good use of this fund and arrange regular collection/proper disposal of collected garbage so that hygienic conditions are maintained on a permanent basis.
In most of the villages, scenes of scattered plastic bags and household garbage inside the drains, nullahs and also along the roadsides have become a common phenomenon. Such a pitiful condition tends to be an eyesore for travellers, pedestrians, as also the visiting tourists.
The Directorate should sanction this fund in instalments. After issuing the first instalment, this competent authority should depute its representatives to the concerned villages to examine the performance of the concerned panchayats. Panchayats failing to undertake above work satisfactorily should not be issued further instalments.
Of course, the allocated fund should not be wasted or misused in any manner. No doubt, panchayats must tackle the garbage issue with great responsibility and strive to keep the respective jurisdictions clean and green on a permanent basis.
Since cleanliness is next to godliness, let us hope that VPs in Goa would not overlook but strive to achieve the goals of ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ on priority basis. This would in turn assure healthy conditions for residents and travellers alike.
PRAVIN U SARDESAI, Adpai
