the goan I network
VASCO
From the possibility of fines to arrest, people in the port town could face severe action with the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) deciding to seek police assistance in a major exercise to tackle garbage menace in the municipality from February 1.
This was decided at a special MMC meeting on Tuesday evening, with the council also deciding to offer Vasco Police a special vehicle to act against those found throwing garbage by the roadside.
MMC Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes, Vasco PI Nolasco Raposo, Traffic Police Inspector Roy Pereira and all councillors attended the meeting and they decided that the drive against garbage would begin from February 1.
The MMC also decided that door-to-door garbage collection contractors would not collect any unsegregated
garbage.
Later speaking to the media, MMC Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar said the extreme step was taken to tackle garbage issue after several failed attempts by the council to deter people from throwing garbage by the roadside.
“Garbage is a major issue and we had this special meeting, where we also invited the Vasco Police inspector and the Traffic police inspector.”
“We have decided that people who throw garbage in the open will be fined and we have asked the police to arrest them as well. It’s my request to all residents that they should help us keep Vasco clean by using the daily door-to-door garbage collection facility and refraining from throwing garbage by the roadside, failing which we may have to take this extreme step.”
“We also appeal to people to bring to our notice any person found throwing garbage by the roadside and we will take action. Vasco Police has assured to support us,” said Gaonkar.
Commenting on problems regarding the door-to-door garbage collection drive, the MMC chairperson added: “Segregated Garbage is not always given to us. If we get garbage in a segregated manner, it could be processed faster and it would reduce the heaps of garbage at the garbage treatment site in Sada.”
“We have decided that our contractors will not pick garbage if not given in a segregated form. We are already sorting out the garbage issue. While dry garbage is bailed and sent, a project to clear wet garbage will come up soon.”
Vasco PI Nolasco Raposo said Vasco police would offer full assistance to MMC to help tackle the garbage issue.
“We have had a discussion and Vasco police will offers all assistance. We have been offered a special vehicle for this and we will take immediate action on people throwing garbage on roadsides as per law,” said PI Raposo.
MMC Councillor Nilesh Navelkar said the meeting on the garbage issue was important due to several health hazards due to roadside garbage dumps, which have also attracted stray cattle.
“I appreciate the MMC and police for helping us tackle the garbage menace,”
said Navelkar.
