Cabral: Permanent mechanism for waste disposal need of hour in Saxtti

Cabral descended at the Ramnagari area of Sao Jose de Areal village panchayat with officials of the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) in tow to put a mechanism in place to address the issue.

Cabral’s presence at Ramnagiri to resolve the garbage woes, only threw up questions whether he is bracing up to preside over the Environment portfolio once again.

“I have worked out a solution in my Curchorem constituency. In Salcete, there’s still no solution in sight to address the waste problem. We should have a permanent solution in Salcete at the earliest,” he said.

Stressing on the need to sensitise the people with the help of the panchayat body to focus on door-to-door collection, Cabral said waste would not find its way in the open spaces if it is collected at the doorsteps. 

To tide over the problem at Ramnagiri, Cabral has come out with a temporary solution, to set up a collection centre at the area, so that the waste is not disposed of all around the place. “Since there is no door-to-door waste collection, we have to go for this temporary solution of setting up a waste collection centre at the area,” he said.

He added: “I could not ignore the pitiable sight of garbage strewn all over the place at Ramnagiri since I travel through the area everyday.”

Saying the local panchayat body is involved in resolving the garbage issue, Cabral stressed on enforcement by imposing hefty fines on the violators. “I think imposing hefty fines on the violators will deter them from disposing of their garbage in the open. People will improve and change their mindset after they are made to pay hefty fines,” he said.

Sao Jose de Areal Sarpanch Minguel Gomes and panchayat members, besides ex-ZP member Moreno Rebello were also present at Ramnagiri.