MARGAO
After its repeated failure to rid the Aquem Ring Road of the garbage dark spot, the Margao Municipal Council has come up with an unprecedented solution “ to close the busy ring road between Aquem Power House and Margao fire station from dusk to dawn every day to stop waste dumping and give a pleasant look to the area.
The Margao Municipal Chief Officer Manuel Barretto has sent an official request to the South Goa district Magistrate to issue the necessary notification for the closure of the Aquem ring road between 7 pm to 7 am every day.
The MMC Chief Officer has decided to send the correspondence to the district Magistrate based on the outcome of the joint meeting with the district Magistrate by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, wherein it was reportedly decided to shut the ring road.
The MMC has further requested the District Magistrate to direct the Traffic Cell, Margao to put the necessary closure sign boards at the Power House Junction and at the Fire Station, Margao from 7 pm to 7 am to avoid waste dumping.
A request has been further made to the district Magistrate to deploy police personnel at both ends of the ring road to prevent the entry of vehicles during the closure hours to stop the nuisance of illegal dumping of waste, garbage, and debris at the location.
In the correspondence, the MMC has maintained that the civic body had taken up the removal of the waste/ garbage, and debris dumped along the roadside of the Ring Road stretch from the Power House junction to the Margao Fire station. The civic body, however, pointed out that it is noticed that unknown persons carry out the dumping of waste along the stretch during late evenings and wee hours of the morning, raising a stink and a health hazard.
Civic officials further pointed out that the Municipality had earlier made several attempts to nab the culprits dumping the waste along the ring road side, but the culprits have gone scot-free since the road stretch is not illuminated.
It was further pointed out by the MMC officials that the PWD has taken up the work of beautification of the ring road stretch and the activity of constant dumping of waste caused problems and hindrances to the work.
The MMC’s decision, however, may raise many an eyebrow since the city plays host to around 50-odd garbage dark spots, which have been craving attention from the Municipal body.
The civic body has been grappling with the garbage dark spots spread across the city. The civic body has entrusted the responsibility of keeping the dark spots clean and free from waste to the door-to-door waste contractors. Sadly, barring a couple of dark spots, most of these garbage spots continue to remain an eyesore in the city.
