VASCO
The Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) led by Councillor Shami Salkar on Monday cleared waste and garbage piled up and lying unattended outside the Vasco chicken market, following concerns raised by Vasco-based NGO ‘Goa First’.
Goa First Convenor Parshuram Sonurlekar on Sunday had posted photos of garbage around the Vasco chicken market on social media, which went viral and netizens began questioning the MMC and the collector appointed to collect garbage.
"Garbage posing a health hazard and there is no SOP followed in the Vasco chicken market. There is no cleanliness and hygiene maintained by shopkeepers nor the MMC," stated Sonurlekar in his message.
When MMC reopened on Monday after the weekend, Councillor Shami Salkar got municipal workers to clean up the entire chicken market area and also supervised the operation.
Later, MMC Chairperson Damodar Kaskar also visited the site along with other councillors to inspect the area following criticism on social media.
When contacted, Salkar said the huge garbage pile at the chicken market was cleared following her urgent request to MMC Chief Officer Jayant Tari.
"The garbage dump was causing inconvenience to public and shopkeepers, while it was also a health threat in view of monsoons. The situation got aggravated as the baled garbage could not be lifted due to labour shortage.”
“The destruction caused by Cyclone Tauktae and rising Covid cases also contributed to the delay in clearing this area. I have instructed garbage contractors to ensure that garbage does not accumulate and is disposed off regularly," said Salkar.
