MARGAO
Sao Jose de Areal Village Panchayat on Sunday struggled to handle a truck load of waste dumped near a water body in the village jurisdiction.
Waste stacked in bundles was found dumped at Matemorod near a crusher in the village early Sunday. Sarpanch Aliston Fernandes and panchayat members, who descended at the spot, later found that the bundles contained saloon waste.
Preliminary inquiry conducted by the sarpanch and panchayat members based on the address on the packets revealed that the waste has come from Varca.
Agitated members pointed out that the saloon owner, if found guilty, for disposing of the waste in the village, would be penalised with maximum fine, as the rules prescribes fine up to Rs 25,000 for violating solid waste management.
“The panchayat along with the police will find out whether the saloon in question is responsible for the waste finding its way in the village. The owner should be slapped with a maximum fine,” Sarpanch Alister told the media.
Former Sarpanch Vincy Mascarenhas condemned the waste dumping near the water body. “This illegal act should not go unpunished. If not lifted away, the waste may leave the water bodies contaminated,” he said.
Areal village is facing the issue of waste disposal with waste being disposed of along the roadsides by unscrupulous elements and waste collection contractors from outside the village.
