the goan I network
VASCO
Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chief Officer Deepali Naik on Friday responded swiftly to an issue raised by The Goan and got municipal workers to clear a huge heap of garbage lying near the Shafi Masjid in Baina for several days.
The garbage had caused several problems to the Muslim community proceeding to offer Namaz at Shafi Masjid Baina and to locals in the area.
"The big problem is the garbage strewn around the entrance to the Masjid. Our Councillor, Murari Bandekar, did not show much interest in the matter and our appeals to him have been in vain," claimed a resident, Asif Mohammed Jaffer.
"The dustbin placed there has been taken by the municipal council and we have to bear all the stink. I request the Mormugao MLA, the MMC or any authority concerned to clean the area," said Jaffer.
A senior citizen, Mohammed Gaffer feared the garbage was a health hazard people in the locality. "We are helpless and we are willing to write any amount of letters if authorities concerned haven't received our earlier correspondences," he said.
Another resident, Abbit Da Costa, added: "I request the MMC to initiate action to collect the garbage immediately. There is a Masjid in the surrounding area and during monsoons, garbage flows on the road. Stray animals eat food waste from the garbage and their presence causes a risk to motorists."
When contacted, Councillor Murari Bandekar refuted the charges. "I have cleared the garbage on a few occasions, especially during the holy Ramadan month," he said.
When The Goan contacted MMC Chief Officer Deepali Naik on Friday and reported the matter to her, she assured to clear the garbage near the Masjid Baina within two hours.
"The ward councillor is a representative of the ward. I have informed all councillors several times to submit a report on daily garbage collection, as it help us understand the status of the daily garbage collection," said Naik.
"I have a group of sanitation officers and staff and any complaint made to me is usually resolved within hours. I have the data as well as snaps of the site, both before and after, with me on my mobile phone sent by these people."
"We are here for the people and if the councillor is not responding, concerned people can write to me or approach me directly and I will do my best to resolve the issue,"
she assured.
When The Goan visited the site, municipal labourers were found clearing the garbage in a mini rickshaw.
"We have been instructed by the chief officer to clear the garbage from the site immediately and send her the picture of the cleared site," said a staff on condition of anonymity.
