Finally, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) appears to have woken up to an issue that has been haunting villages across Goa — rampant illegal dumping of chicken waste and other wet garbage across roadsides, open spaces and water bodies. What was seen as an occasional nuisance has now grown into a serious environmental and public health hazard. Besides the stench such waste generates, there are direct threats to sanitation and even groundwater contamination.
Every day, Goa generates an estimated 25 to 35 tonnes of poultry waste. Yet only a fraction of the state’s chicken vendors are part of organised systems that ensure scientific disposal. Of the more than 1,000 poultry shops operating across Goa, barely 330 are associated with groups that follow proper waste management practices. The rest continue to function with little accountability, and many routinely dump waste under the cover of darkness along roads, fields, streams, and isolated stretches.
Rotten animal waste attracts stray animals, clogs drains, contaminates water sources, and creates breeding grounds for dangerous bacteria. Health experts have repeatedly warned about the rise of multidrug-resistant pathogens thriving in such unhygienic conditions. In a state that depends heavily on tourism and prides itself on its natural beauty, the sight and smell of rotting waste have become deeply troubling, let alone the dumping of plastic waste on roadsides.
The GWMC plans to map chicken outlets and saloons using geo-tagging and digital tracking to identify where waste is generated and where illegal dumping occurs most frequently. Vast areas in Mapusa, Salcete, Bardez, Pernem, and Ponda have repeatedly emerged as dumping hotspots, and targeted monitoring in these regions could make a meaningful difference.
However, mapping alone will not solve the crisis. The larger issue lies in Goa’s overstretched waste management infrastructure. The state is already struggling to process the volume of waste generated each day, with nearly 25 tonnes reportedly left untreated. This is a sharp increase from just a few years ago. Existing facilities at Saligao and Cacora are simply unable to cope with the growing burden, especially as urban expansion and tourism continue to drive up waste generation.
This is why proposed projects such as the 250 TPD integrated waste management facility at Verna and the planned 100 TPD plant at Bainguinim are so important. These facilities cannot remain trapped in paperwork, delays, and bureaucratic hurdles. Their completion must become a priority. Every delay widens the gap between waste generation and treatment capacity, giving illegal dumping more room.
The question is, why are authorities not cracking the whip? Why is such dumping of wet waste tolerated? Why do departments like health, police and panchayats not work in coordination? Surveys are long-term plans, and given the background, there is no urgency shown. Geo-tagging is a helpful tool, but that alone may not be enough. The State needs a robust CCTV surveillance system that covers vulnerable dumping zones, coupled with increased patrolling along highways and forest stretches, and better monitoring of transport vehicles carrying slaughter waste. Some areas in Valpoi have prioritised vigilance.
While the system takes its time, a change will require public participation as well. Residents must be encouraged to report illegal dumping without hesitation. Awareness campaigns are equally necessary to reinforce the idea that waste management is not merely the government’s responsibility but a collective civic duty. The state still has an opportunity to reverse the damage, but that will require urgency, political will, and sustained action. Goa’s image as a clean and beautiful destination depends not only on its beaches and forests, but also on how responsibly it manages the waste generated every single day.
