the goan I network
MAPUSA
The State government recently stopped lifting off garbage along national and state highways and that has left piles of garbage by the roadside at Gotnicho Val-Colvale, Madel, Thivim, Ganesh Puri
and Marna.
This accumulated garbage has now become major problem for local panchayats and people.
The State government’s Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) had tendered the work to lift garbage from the main roads, but the contract ended, the contractor stopped lifting the garbage since the last few months.
As a result, the garbage has been accumulating at several places along the main roads and the panchayats at Colvale, Tivim and Marna-Siolim are not in a position to lift
this garbage.
These panchayats had erected signboards cautioning the public not to throw garbage by the roadside, but these signboards were later found broken. The Tivim Panchayat had also fitted a CCTV camera at Madel, but it too was damaged by anti-social elements.
“As per instructions of Solid Waste Management Corporation, we have lifted the garbage, but the corporation has not paid us for this work. We want that the SWMC should bear the expenses, while there should be police patrolling to nab those throwing garbage by the roadside. We have written to the Solid Waste Management Corporation in this connection, but there has been no response,” said Colvale Sarpanch
Dasharath Bicholkar.
Stating that the lifting of garbage had stopped since the last few months, acting Tivim Sarpanch Leo Pereira said: “As per instructions of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), we have started to lift garbage but people continue to throw garbage by the roadside” “We have fitted a CCTV camera to capture footage of those dumping roadside garbage, but the camera was damaged. The government should work out a solution to this garbage problem,”
said Pereira.
Siolim-Marna Sarpanch Fermina Fernandes said the accumulated garbage has also posed a big problem in
their village.
“People of our village have been hit by the stench of garbage and industrial garbage is also accumulating near the roads. Police had once caught a truck dumping garbage, but no further action taken against the offencers.”
“Local MLA and Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar is trying to solve the garbage problem,” Fernandes added.
