MARGAO
Margao Municipal Council’s door-to-door waste collection outsourced at a staggering cost of over Rs 6 crore has come under public lens after citizens complained that waste collectors are not lifting thermocol waste.
While demanding to know how and where citizens are expected to dispose of thermocol waste, citizens have feared that non-collection of thermocol waste by the waste collectors will force citizens to dispose of the waste in the open.
Margao Municipal Engineer Deepak Faldesai, however, pointed out the Municipality has not issued any instructions to the workers to stop collecting thermocol waste from households or business premises. “There may be some workers engaged by the contractor, who might have not accepted thermocol waste. As a general rule, the contractors are mandated to accept all waste from the households and establishments. If the workers do not accept the thermocol waste, people may throw waste in the open,” he said.
The Municipal engineer said he would call a meeting with the garbage contractors, saying they will be told to sensitise their workers engaged in waste collection.
A citizen from Fatorda, Melvyn Fernandes has pointed out that MMC garbage collector has refused to collect thermocol, even as he demanded accountability and action.
With the MMC waste collectors refusing to pick up thermocol (polystyrene foam), a common type of household waste, residents have demanded answers as they are already paying for the service. Taxpayers are questioning the MMC’s commitment, arguing that the service should inherently include the collection of all types of waste.
“When residents are paying for the door-to-door garbage collection, isn’t it the responsibility and duty of the MMC to collect all kinds of waste?” stated Melvyn. “No wonder, our city is full of garbage. The MMC is failing to put a proper system in place and does not appear to be serious about garbage disposal and clearance,” he said.
