MARGAO IS PLAYING WITH FIRE

MARGAO
Has the practice of waste burning by the Margao Municipal workers stopped in the commercial capital?

Open burning of waste stands completely banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), but the practice of waste burning continues unabated in the city. If one finds waste burning at the Margao Municipal garden, right under the nose of the Margao Municipal City Fathers and Babus, civic workers setting roadside gardens and other waste afire have now become a norm than an exception in the city.

Hundreds of motorists, including Margao Municipal employees, travelling along the city’s main road, from Hospicio hospital to enter the city, had to contend with smoke and poor visibility after civic workers burn waste alongside the road, between Holy Spirit cemetery and the Ana Fonte garden.

Visitors to the Margao Urban Health Centre and the PHC staff saw for themselves how smoke billowed along the road. Motorists had a torrid time travelling on the road, especially at the stretch near the Margao UHC on Monday evening at around 4 pm.

A Margao Municipal employee travelling on his two-wheeler said waste burning should not be allowed by the civic body. “Waste burning should not be allowed by the civic body not just because of the ban imposed by the NGT, but it causes pollution, besides irritation for the commuters,” he said.

While the absence of sensitisation amongst the civic workers may be a cause behind the open burning of waste, sources wondered whether the dry leaves and other waste is being set afire by the workers for want of adequate space at Sonsodo and near the KTC bus stand for the dumping of dry waste.

A Margao Urban Health official told The Goan that open waste burning is indeed a matter of concern and that the civic body and the Pollution Control Board should find an answer to the problem. “Burning of garden waste mixed with plastic can pose a real health hazard to the citizens in the long run. It is indeed surprising that the civic workers have not been sensitised to stop the open waste burning,” remarked a health official.

When The Goan called up Margao Municipal Chief Officer Manuel Baretto to shed light on the open waste burning resorted to by civic workers along the city roads, he promised to find a solution to the problem. “I will check with the Municipal Sanitary Section on the matter. If required, we will hold a sensitisation exercise for the workers to stop waste burning,” Barreto said.

Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro was categorical in saying the NGT order has banned waste burning, by individuals and on a mass scale. She, however, pointed out that if the Margao Municipal workers are disposing of the garden and other waste by burning, the officials should spread awareness amongst the field workers that it’s illegal to burn waste in the open. “I think the Municipal officials should hold a programme to sensitise the workers and ensure that they do not set the waste afire,” she said.

The GSPCB Member Secretary pointed out that the NGT order has prescribed fines, ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 on open waste burning on individuals and on a mass scale.

Incidentally, the mini-waste dump near the KTC bus stand was on fire a fortnight ago for a couple of days, with the fire brigade repeatedly called to extinguish the fire.