MAPUSA
Under increasing public scrutiny following the death of 22-year-old Samuel Braganza, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has initiated a series of measures aimed at strengthening garbage management and ensuring closer monitoring of waste collection across the town.
As a special arrangement during the monsoon season, the civic body has constituted two dedicated monitoring teams “ one for daytime operations and another for night-time supervision “ to oversee waste collection, identify garbage black spots and improve coordination among sanitation workers.
The decision was taken following a nearly three-hour review meeting convened on Monday by MMC Chief Officer Chandrakant Shetkar with officials from the engineering section and sanitation supervisors.
During the meeting, officials held detailed discussions on improving field-level monitoring, addressing recurring garbage dumping issues and streamlining waste collection operations.
Supervisors were given specific instructions on the surveillance of vulnerable locations, timely garbage clearance and reporting mechanisms to ensure swift action wherever waste accumulation is noticed.
ENGINEERS ROPED IN TO MONITOR DRIVE
In a significant move, the engineering wing has also been brought directly into the monitoring process.
Engineers have been tasked with overseeing the overall garbage management system and have been instructed to remain available for inspections even on Saturdays and Sundays.
Municipal officials said they would be compensated with corresponding days off for the additional duties.
“We had a meeting with all engineers and supervisors primarily to improve garbage management and ensure that all operations run smoothly. The focus is on better monitoring, coordination and accountability at every level,” a municipal official said.
STRICTER SUPERVISION
Officials acknowledged that while door-to-door garbage collection is being carried out across all 20 wards of Mapusa, there have been occasional shortcomings in some areas that need to be addressed through stricter supervision.
At present, the municipal council directly handles door-to-door waste collection in Wards 1 to 10, while collection in Wards 11 to 20 has been outsourced to a private agency. Civic authorities are expected to closely monitor both systems to ensure uniform standards of service throughout the town.
FOCUS ON BLACK SPOTS
The renewed focus on waste management comes amid heightened public attention on civic enforcement and garbage disposal practices following the tragic death of a Mapusa youth, whose case triggered widespread debate over waste management, public shaming and the manner in which civic violations are handled by authorities.
Municipal officials maintained that the latest measures are intended to strengthen the town’s sanitation network, particularly during the monsoon months when garbage accumulation and illegal dumping tend to increase.
They expressed confidence that enhanced field monitoring and improved coordination between engineers, supervisors and sanitation workers would help keep the town cleaner and prevent the emergence of new garbage black spots.
