THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Almost 20 out of the 191 panchayats in the state have not identified land for garbage treatment, although the High Court of Bombay in Goa had mandated the same a couple of years ago. The information about which Panchayats had identified the land, and which have not, was tabled by Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho in the Assembly on Monday in reply to an unstarred question asked by Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar.
The panchayats which have not identified the land are Chinchinim - Deussua, Sarzora, Seraulim, Aquem - Baixo, Raia (in the process), Colva, and Telaulim in Salcete, Cudnem and Sirigao in Bicholim, Sanvordem (earlier space identified rejected by Pollution Control Board) in Sanguem, Durbhat, Volvoi (in the process), Wadi Talaulim (in the process), Ambaulim and Barcem-Quedem in Quepem, V.P. Sao Matias in Tiswadi, Morjim and Querim - Tiracol in Pernem.
In addition to this, there are a couple of panchayats that say that there is no land available in their jurisdiction. These are Orlim and Betalbatim in Salcete, and Mayem-Vainguinimin in Bicholim.
From amongst the panchayats that have identified the land, many have requested an NOC from the current landowners, and are awaiting the same. Very few panchayats said that they are already treating their garbage.
Dhavalikar also wished to know the action taken by the local self-government bodies to treat bio-degradable and non-biodegradable waste, the amount of waste generated in each village separately i.e. wet waste/dry waste, the technology used for the purpose of treating wet waste, the present status of dry waste collected, the plans the government has if dry waste is accepted by the neighboring state, and the present status of other dry waste which is not handled by the neighboring state.
The latter two questions were not answered by the Minister concerned, who said that the answers were "not applicable."
Most of the panchayats don't have the technology to treat wet waste, and most replied that the panchayat wasn't the body that collected the wet waste in that jurisdiction.
