PANAJI
Even garbage and solid waste is a source of corruption for elected representatives in Goa it has emerged with no less than Chief Minister Pramod Sawant acknowledging on record how he has "seen how they indulge in corruption".
“I have seen how they indulge in corruption. Sixty to seventy thousand rupees are withdrawn in the name of waste management but not even Rs 20,000 is actually spent,” Sawant said in a pretty blunt speech to an audience which comprised of elected panchas, councillors, sarpanchas and civic body chiefs from across Goa.
The occasion was a workshop organised by the Goa Solid Waste Management Corporation (GSWMC) which brought together officials of all government departments involved with solid waste disposal and also representatives of panchayats and municipalities in a bid to synergise the work of these multiple agencies.
Sawant, who was the chief guest at the inaugural of the day-long workshop alleged in his address that several elected representatives manipulate the funds allotted to the panchayat or municipality for waste management through the 14th and 15th finance Commissions.
"The government is willing to give money and technical support but panchayat and municipalities will have to take the responsibility of keeping areas under their jurisdiction clean," Sawant said.
He raised the issue of dumping of garbage by people in Goa across the State and warned that if this continues the way it is, no tourist will want to visit Goa again in the next 10 years.
He asked the stakeholders, particularly panchayats and municipalities, to act sternly against those dumping garbage on roadside and in public areas.
"Question them, fine them and even seize their vehicles if needed," Sawant said.
The Chief Minister claimed that around Rs 160 crore is spent annually by the GSWMC but lamented that the menace of garbage is growing in the State at an alarming rate.
In addition municipalities, panchayats and tourism department also spends money on garbage management but the problem still persists, he said.
Sawant said, black spots across the State have been identified where garbage is commonly dumped and setting up transfer stations at these spots is being contemplated.
Sawant listed the plant at Saligao, the one to manage bio-medical waste at Kudaim, besides others to manage chemical waste, industrial waste, construction and e-waste as Goa's stride in managing solid waste.
The bio-medical waste plant at Kundaim is one of the best plants in India, Sawant claimed adding that Goa is perhaps the only State that has the best infrastructure to deal with seven different types of solid waste.
The workshop coordinated by the GSWMC managing director Levinson Martins was held at the multipurpose hall of Sanskrit Bhavan in Patto-Panaji and had some top field experts as resource persons, including Sujeet Kumar Dongre, Dr Vivek Agarwal, Dr Sharad Kale and Joglekar of the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
