MAPUSA: Open waste dumps have resurfaced in Mapusa and the local civic body appears to have failed to act with the alacrity it deserves to control the menace.
The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) recently received accolades for converting black spots (open waste dumps) into beauty spots, but it is slowly limping to its old ways.
One such spot by the roadside at Gatteshwarnagar-Khorlim in Mapusa has turned into a huge waste dump. Waste has been dumped along the whole stretch creating nuisance to the residents living in the area.
According to an eyewitness, people from neighbouring villages travelling in their vehicles fling plastic bags filled with waste at the spot and speed away.
Locals have also disclosed that some hoteliers dump waste in the area under the cover of darkness. “We have complained to the civic authorities on several occasions but no one appears to pay heed to our request to clear the area,” said Prakash Naik, a resident from the area.
Local councilor Vibha Salgaonkar informed that the civic body was aware of the nuisance and it had taken note about the menace.
“The council has prepared an estimate and within a week the civic authorities will take corrective steps. Since it’s a slope we cannot beautify the spot. So we are planning to cover the place with a net so that people will not be able to dump waste along the area,” Salgaonkar said.
It may be recalled the High Court of Bombay at Goa had recently praised the Mapusa civic body for having tackled the problem of black spots in its jurisdiction and asked other municipalities especially Margao and Quepem to follow the example of Mapusa.
“The councils should seriously consider the steps to transform or eradicate such black spots, perhaps by taking lead from the Mapusa Municipal Council’s efforts by beautifying such spots by putting small gardens,” the court had said.
The MMC had transformed 14 such black spots in the city into beautiful spots by beautifying the areas.
