MARGAO
Why is waste being disposed of by burning at the dark spots across the commercial capital, more so when the Margao Municipal Council spends crores of rupees on waste collection and disposal annually?
As waste continues to burn along the ring road at Aquem since it was set afire around 10 days ago, questions are being raised how come waste is being disposed of by burning in violation of the National Green Tribunal’s ban on disposal of garbage by burning.
While a health hazard is staring at the citizens due to continuous disposal of waste by burning, the situation has brought to the fore the moot question of how come the waste is being disposed of by burning when the Margao municipality has roped in agencies to handle the waste.
It’s an open secret that the waste dumped along the ring road find its way from the neighbouring villages, but questions are being raised about who’s behind the act of setting the waste afire.
“I do not think the waste is being set afire by those who dump it along the ring road. If they were responsible, they would not have taken the trouble to get the waste from the villages to the ring road and set it afire”, the citizen added.
The Shadow Council for Margao sarcastically said the "burning of waste" in Margao seems to be the scientific method for the Margao Municipal Council.
SCM convenor pointed out that it has become a routine for the Margao municipality workers to burn waste in the municipal garden, Ana Fonte garden, during the roadside sweeping and the clearing of black spots.
"The pollution caused by such burning seems to be of least concern for our authorities", Coutinho lamented.
The Shadow Council for Margao once again questioned the payment of hefty bills of the waste management agency appointed by Margao Municipal Council.
“The council is paying nearly Rs 15 lakh per month to a contractor who has been entrusted the work of door-to-door waste collection and clearance of black spots by segregation of waste found at the black spots”, he added.
While it is common knowledge that the door-to-door waste collection doesn't happen in a segregated manner, the waste at the black spots is gathered at one point and set ablaze, much against the rules for waste disposal and pollution control board guidelines.
Coutinho claimed: “Today, the workers of an agency gathered the waste strewn near the overbridge at Rawanfond and set it ablaze instead of segregating and handing over to the Margao council vehicles”.
He said the purpose of highlighting this fact is because the bills of this agency are certified by the concerned Supervisors/Engineers, as having segregated the waste at such black spots, much contrary to what can be seen at the site.
Condemning the careless attitude of the council by which precious public resources are squandered on shoddy deals with unscrupulous contractors, Coutinho said: "We shall go to any extent to ensure the safeguarding of taxpayers money, and very soon we will be filing a petition before the High Court in this regard".
