the goan I network
MAPUSA
The local body has also decided to place an order for dust bins which will be allocated to all the wards and placed at strategic locations.
"We have decided to collect waste on a regular basis in the village. To ensure our village becomes garbage free, we want to put a system in place so that Anjuna can become a model village for others to emulate," said Savio Almeida, Sarpanch of Anjuna-Caisua Panchayat.
The panchayat had convened a special meeting of all the 11 panchas at the panchayat office on Friday.
One official each from the Calangute garbage treatment plant and Goa waste management corporation were also present for the meeting.
As a first step, the panchayat has decided to involve people of the village in keeping the village clean. "We will be having ward-wise clean-up drives for one week from August 14 to 21. All panchayat members along with the locals will actively participate in the clean-up drive in all the 11 wards of the village," Almeida said.
He said the panchayat has sent a proposal to the Directorate of Panchayats for purchase of dustbins which will be deployed in all the wards.
"We have asked the panch members to select seven to eight sites in their respective wards. Initially, at least 10 bins will be provided for each ward," he said.
The sarpanch said the waste will be segregated into dry and wet and accordingly the black (for dry waste) and green (wet waste) bins will be placed at selected sites. He said public will be informed about the segregation of the garbage and their help will be sought to tackle the menace.
Meeting is a fraud: panch member
MAPUSA: Labeling the Friday's meeting on garbage collection as face-saving in the backdrop of High Court direction, opposition panch member Surendra Govekar said the panchayat did not appear serious at all to tackle the waste menace that's threatening the coastal belt.
Govekar said the garbage contractor who was called for the meeting was not present but instead a sub-contractor was present.
He further disclosed that the contract to collect garbage in the village has expired in May this year.
"There is complete fraud going on. It's an attempt to give back-door entry to the same contractor for garbage collection," Govekar said.
He said the panchayat was forced to convene the meeting because the High Court had directed the local bodies in the coastal village to take steps to tackle waste.
"Since the panchayat failed to initiate appropriate steps, I had recently sent notices to it, DoP and Goa State Pollution Control Board," he said.
