The Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024-25 bestowed upon Panaji the coveted title of the Cleanest City in the 50,000 to 2 lakh population category, an award that may have come as a surprise to the thousands of Ponjekars who have witnessed the muck, grime, and filth in pockets of the capital city.
The Swachh Survekshan Awards are determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of several key parameters related to cleanliness and sanitation, including visible cleanliness, waste management (segregation, collection, transportation, processing, and disposal), access to sanitation, wastewater management, and citizen feedback. While Panaji boasts some positives, it also has its share of negatives, and a nuanced examination reveals that the city’s journey towards genuine cleanliness remains incomplete.
First, the positive part. Panaji’s achievement underscores the city’s strides in implementing innovative waste management strategies, notably its pioneering segregation system. Covering over 90% of households with door-to-door collection exemplifies a proactive approach. Such initiatives, supported by legislative mandates for bulk waste generators, demonstrate a commitment to waste processing and environmental sustainability.
Now here is the irony. Panaji has done exceedingly well in garbage disposal, but decades down the line, even after the Smart City status, it lacks its own waste treatment facility and has to rely on the Saligao treatment plant to treat its garbage. This dependence raises questions about the sustainability and efficiency of waste processing, especially as waste generation increases over time. This arrangement has its downsides, especially when there is an overload on the plant or there are capacity constraints.
The crux of the challenge also lies in the visible cleanliness, or the lack thereof. Pockets of Panaji, including the markets, areas like Mala, Bhatulem, parts of Taleigao, which are under the city’s jurisdiction, and a few sections of Altinho, continue to display the scars of inadequate sanitation. Garbage strewn along roadsides, overflowing bins, and unkempt public spaces smear the image.
Further compounding these issues is the long-standing environmental blight of the St Inez creek. For decades, this waterway, just like the River Sal in South Goa, has suffered from pollution due to unchecked sewage discharge from residential and commercial establishments. The creek is an eyesore with plastic debris, foul odours, and contaminated waters. Such environmental degradation reflects gaps in wastewater management and enforcement.
Furthermore, Panaji has just completed its sewerage project, and one would expect better and ‘smarter’ times. However, even with the sewerage line under the Smart City initiative, the city faces persistent sewage water overflow on the roads, especially in the heart of the city and mainstream St Inez. Panaji’s sanitation has improved a great deal over the years, but public toilets continue to raise a stink. Moreover, water stagnation continues to be a threat in low-lying areas like Patto Plaza.
The award will bring mixed feelings. A moment of pride and validation for civic work that could boost morale and encourage commitment to cleanliness initiatives. And, on the other side, it would also ring in scepticism because the dirty side of the city is still showing. Such a mixture underscores the gap between perception and reality while indicating the journey towards hygiene is far from complete.
Panaji’s recognition as the cleanest city must serve as a catalyst rather than a celebration. Panaji needs consistent and visible sanitation, uniform infrastructural upgrades, vigilant enforcement, forward-looking leadership, and immense public participation. Let this award be a mirror to reflect on the gaps.
