MMC staff, vehicles to be used under GWMC supervision
EYESORE NEAR MARKET: Open dumping of garbage continues unabated near the Junta Quarters in Mapusa, just a stone’s throw from the busy town market.
Photo Credits: Agnelo Pereira
MAPUSA
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) will take over door-to-door garbage collection in Mapusa town, a task that until now has been handled by the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC).
The decision comes in the wake of severe criticism over the municipal council’s failure to manage waste collection, which has led to unsightly heaps of garbage across the town over the past two months.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recently directed GWMC to intervene and resolve the garbage crisis, which the civic body has struggled to manage despite repeated assurances.
“This is the first time GWMC will be undertaking door-to-door waste collection in any municipal area in Goa,” confirmed a senior GWMC official.
“We will now begin surveying all 20 wards in Mapusa to understand the ground realities and draft an action plan accordingly,” he added.
In the interim, GWMC plans to appoint a dedicated agency to handle waste collection operations. The agency will work in coordination with MMC workers and utilise the council’s existing infrastructure.
“GWMC will monitor the entire collection process, while the existing municipal staff and garbage trucks will be placed at their disposal. The corporation will also ensure that waste is properly segregated, collected and sent for final disposal,” said MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal.
The MMC’s inability to maintain cleanliness had triggered widespread public anger, with residents voicing their frustration over social media and in public forums.
Piles of uncollected garbage were seen dumped along roadsides, open spaces and residential areas, raising serious health and sanitation concerns.
Faced with mounting criticism, MMC had admitted it was overwhelmed and unable to cope with the situation, prompting state intervention.
While the GWMC’s role is typically limited to waste processing and treatment at facilities like the Saligao waste plant, this marks the first time the corporation is directly stepping into urban garbage collection – signalling a shift in the State government’s approach to addressing municipal-level sanitation issues.
The success of this pilot initiative in Mapusa could open the door for similar interventions in other towns facing waste management challenges.
