The disposal of waste after the traditional Tuesday weekly market in Valpoi has emerged as a growing concern, with residents alleging that some vendors are dumping garbage in open spaces and roadside drains, leading to clogged drainage, foul odours and unhygienic conditions, particularly during the monsoon.
Residents have urged the Valpoi Municipal Council to introduce a dedicated waste collection and disposal system for vegetable, fruit and other market vendors to ensure the problem is addressed on a long-term basis.
The Tuesday market, one of the largest and busiest in Sattari taluka, attracts hundreds of shoppers from Valpoi and neighbouring villages every week. Vendors selling vegetables, fruits, grains, spices, clothing, household goods, agricultural products and other essentials make the market an important commercial centre for the region.
However, once trading concludes, some vendors allegedly leave behind spoiled vegetables, fruits, leafy greens, plastic bags, thermocol, cardboard and other waste materials on roadsides or dump them into nearby drains. The resulting blockages impede the natural flow of rainwater, causing waterlogging, foul smell and creating conditions conducive to mosquito breeding.
Residents said the problem is most evident on Wednesday mornings, when large quantities of waste remain scattered around the market area. Since the market is located in a densely populated locality, nearby residents, shopkeepers, schoolchildren and pedestrians are forced to contend with unhygienic surroundings and overflowing drains.
Although the Valpoi Municipal Council undertakes routine post-market cleaning, sanitation workers reportedly face difficulties in removing decomposed organic waste from clogged drains. The accumulation of waste not only produces an unpleasant stench but also makes cleaning operations more labour-intensive and time-consuming.
Citizens have called on the municipal council to install separate bins for wet and dry waste across the market, make vendors responsible for disposing of waste at designated collection points and ensure immediate cleaning once the market closes. They have also demanded stricter monitoring during market hours and penalties against vendors found violating waste disposal norms.
Residents pointed out that the Valpoi Municipal Council had received the Second Prize for Cleanliness from the Directorate of Municipal Administration last year in recognition of its sanitation and waste management efforts. They, however, believe that the recurring waste problem after the weekly market is undermining the town's reputation for cleanliness.
They also noted that the State government's "Swachh Goa – Sundar Goa" campaign promotes sanitation, waste segregation, plastic-free public spaces and scientific solid waste management. According to residents, indiscriminate dumping of market waste runs contrary to these objectives and requires immediate corrective action.
Appealing to local MLA and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to intervene, residents urged the authorities to direct the municipal council to prioritise the issue. They also sought regular inspections during the weekly market, awareness among vendors on proper waste disposal and strict action against repeat offenders.
With another Tuesday market approaching, residents fear the problem will recur unless preventive measures are implemented in advance. They have urged the municipal council to prepare a comprehensive waste management plan, provide adequate waste bins, enforce segregation of wet and dry waste, undertake prompt post-market cleaning and ensure strict compliance with sanitation regulations.
Residents emphasised that the Valpoi weekly market is not only a key commercial hub but also an important part of Sattari's rural economy. They said maintaining cleanliness and environmentally responsible market practices is a shared responsibility of the municipal council, vendors and the public, and called for coordinated efforts to preserve the market's reputation and ensure a clean, healthy environment.
