Civic body’s plans to outsource garbage collection in 10 wards also on agenda
MESSY AFFAIR: Garbage dumped near the Zonal Agriculture Office in Mapusa remains uncleared till late Friday evening, raising concerns over civic negligence.
Photo Credits: Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
In a bid to curb the menace of unauthorised waste dumping across the town, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) is set to install CCTV surveillance cameras at strategic locations in and around the city.
The decision, prompted by growing concerns over unmanaged garbage disposal, will be formally tabled at the upcoming council meeting.
Mapusa has been grappling with waste management challenges for years, but the problem intensified over the past month after the civic body was barred from dumping waste at the Assagao plateau.
This site previously served as a temporary holding and segregation point before the waste was sent to the Saligao Solid Waste Management Plant and the Cunchelim facility for further processing.
With the closure of the Assagao site, municipal garbage collection workers are now forced to conduct waste segregation at the collection point itself – a process that is time-consuming and inefficient, leading to further delays and logistical strain.
To address the situation, MMC’s engineering department has submitted a detailed proposal for the installation of high-definition CCTV cameras at key dumping hotspots.
The initiative is aimed at identifying and penalising habitual offenders who illegally dispose of garbage in open spaces and along roadsides.
“This is a long-pending demand from both residents and civic officials. The idea is not just to monitor, but to create a deterrent effect,” said a senior MMC official on condition of anonymity.
“We have identified several problematic spots in the town where garbage dumping is rampant. With surveillance, we can gather evidence and issue fines to violators,” he added.
Residents have welcomed the move, expressing hope that visible surveillance infrastructure will curb the rising instances of indiscriminate dumping.
“It’s time the authorities took stern action. Open garbage piles are not only an eyesore but a health hazard,” said Shrikant Naik, a local from Angod, Mapusa.
Adding to the civic woes are a chronic staff shortage and a dwindling fleet of garbage collection vehicles, which have hampered routine operations. According to a source in the civic administration, MMC is also contemplating outsourcing garbage collection in 10 out of its 20 municipal wards – mirroring an earlier outsourcing initiative that was reportedly successful.
“In the past, we had outsourced garbage collection in half the wards and it worked well. Given the current manpower and resource crunch, the council is seriously considering re-implementing that model,” the source added.
Civic officials argue that the twin strategies of surveillance and outsourcing could significantly ease the pressure on municipal operations while improving overall cleanliness across Mapusa.
Meanwhile, environmental activists have urged the council to also invest in public awareness campaigns and improved waste segregation practices at the household level.
“The focus should be twofold – punitive and preventive. Cameras can help, but educating the public about responsible waste disposal is equally crucial,” said a waste management volunteer based in North Goa.
