THE GOAN NETWORK
SANGUEM
In an unusual incident that has brought the issue of garbage collection in Sanguem into sharp focus, police have booked a person for allegedly entering the Sanguem Municipal Council premises and leaving a garbage bag containing the carcass of a dead dog near the Birth and Death section window.
The FIR reportedly followed an incident on Thursday in which outgoing councillor Meshu D’Costa allegedly left a tied garbage bag containing the carcass outside the municipal council office.
While the act has drawn criticism, some have seen it as a dramatic expression of public frustration over the failure of the civic body to ensure regular garbage collection.
The incident reportedly took place after municipal garbage collection remained disrupted for the past two days in certain wards of the Sanguem Municipal Council area, including the ward represented by D’Costa.
Municipal sources attributed the disruption to a shortage of labourers.
The failure to collect garbage, particularly wet waste, has left residents irritated, with locals demanding that the municipal council ensure daily collection instead of allowing garbage to accumulate in residential areas.
According to the complaint lodged by Chief Officer Viraj Malkarni, the incident involved forcibly entering the municipal council premises and placing or throwing the sack containing the dead dog near the Birth and Death Section window.
The complaint alleged that the incident disrupted office functioning, created an unhygienic situation and hindered public servants as well as public movement.
Incidentally, the FIR, which was registered on Friday, has also triggered questions over the circumstances leading to the action.
The police complaint is being viewed against the backdrop of remarks reportedly made by Social Welfare Minister and Sanguem MLA Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai during the inauguration of the lift at the Government Office Complex in Sanguem.
The minister is reported to have conveyed a message to the Chief Officer that it was the responsibility of the municipal administration to take appropriate action in matters involving public nuisance.
