the goan I networkPANAJIChief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Thursday chaired a meeting of all coastal panchayats of Pernem and Bardez in a bid to maximise the waste collection in these areas which is to be sent to the Saligao mixed waste garbage treatment plant. The plant, to be inaugurated by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on May 30, will now need a well-oiled supply chain to ensure that garbage is collected, segregated and transported to the plant. However, with many panchayats, save for the more urbanised ones, not having a regular garbage collection and segregation programme in place, the government has shown eagerness to ensure that it is implemented. “The focus of the meeting was on educating the panchayats in order to ensure that maximum waste reaches the waste plant. Earlier, the complaint was that even if they collected the waste, there was nowhere to send it. Now that we have the plant, we want to sensitise them on sending garbage to the plant,” informed officials who attended the meeting. Panchayats which have been selected have been asked to plan their garbage collection mechanism, route plan and means of transportation as well as timings, and have also been sensitised on what kind of garbage should be sent to the plant. Each panchayat will have to submit its plans to Goa State Pollution Control Board as well as the Directorate of Panchayats and other authorities. The meeting was attended by all the panchayat members of the coastal panchayats, including zilla parishad members, the Managing Director of Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, the Director of Panchayats, Ministers and legislators. The panchayats have been urged to inform their constituents so as to ensure that residents and establishments of the area hand over their garbage to the panchayat collectors instead of dumping it along the roadsides or flinging it in water bodies. Officials also need to estimate exactly how much garbage is being generated in the villages. Among the panchayats which were present for the meeting include the village panchayats surrounding the garbage plant viz Calangute, Candolim, Pilerne, Saligao, Sangolda, Nerul, Reis Magos as well as panchayats which are a little further away in Bardez. They include Arpora-Nagoa, Parra, Penha de Franca, Socorro, Salvador do Mundo, Anjuna, Guirim, Assagao, Siolim Marna, Siolim Sodiem, Oxel, and Ucassaim. The coastal villages of Pernem like Morjim, Arambol, Mandrem and Querim-Tiracol have also been included in the list. The Chief Minister has urged co-operation from all panchayat members who were present.
THE ROAD AHEAD
All village panchayats must have a garbage collection and segregation programme They must plan the garbage collection mechanism, route plan and means of transportation as well as timings, and the kind of garbage that should be sent to the Saligao waste treatment plant Officials will have to estimate how much garbage is being generated in the villages Each panchayat will have to submit its plans to GSPCB as well as Directorate of Panchayats and other authorities
