VASCO
In a significant step towards addressing the persistent problem of garbage dumping in public areas, the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has announced the imposition of sanitization fees on vegetable and fruit vendors.
The initiative, revealed by MMC Chairperson Girish Borkar, seeks to promote proper waste disposal practices while also enhancing the corporation’s revenue base.
“For many years, the MMC did not charge any fees to vendors for garbage collection. Unfortunately, this resulted in indiscriminate dumping of waste, leading to serious hygiene and cleanliness issues across the city,” Borkar explained.
He added, “To address this problem and ensure proper waste management, we are introducing a nominal sanitization fee. This will not only improve cleanliness but also help boost the MMC’s income, enabling us to provide better services to the community.”
The new policy comes as part of a broader effort to streamline waste management systems and foster civic responsibility among vendors.
By implementing the fee, the MMC hopes to deter vendors from resorting to unregulated dumping practices, thus improving the overall aesthetic and hygiene of Mormugao.
While details about the fee structure are yet to be finalised, Borkar assured that it would be a modest amount, keeping the vendors’ livelihoods in mind. The initiative has received mixed reactions from vendors and residents, with some welcoming the move and others expressing concerns about its impact on small-scale sellers.
The MMC has urged citizens to cooperate in maintaining cleanliness and has promised that the revenue generated from the fee will be reinvested in waste management infrastructure and services.
