the goan I network
MARGAO
Navelim Panchayat has asked the government to provide funds and infrastructure for solid waste management, even as the government has shortlisted five villages, including Navelim, as model villages as per the National Green Tribunal order.
When Panchayat Director Rajan Sattardekar along with Additional Director South Florina Colaco, BDO officials descended on the Navelim panchayat to review the implementation of solid waste management, with the panchayat body emerging as one of the bodies which has excelled in the exercise, the elected representatives sought financial support to meet the growing requirements.
Sarpanch Wilma D’Silva made a strong case for sanction of additional funds to the panchayat body to take the ongoing waste management exercise to its logical conclusion. “Navelim has achieved much success on the garbage front. The government has now selected Navelim as a model village under the NGT order. We have put in place door-to-door garbage collection and also carry out segregation,” she pointed out.
The Sarpanch, however, said the panchayat is in dire need of additional funds to meet the growing requirements. “Navelim is entitled for Rs six lakh government grant, but the funds are not enough. We have pumped in huge funds on garbage and we need additional funds,” she said.
On the waste segregation site, the Navelim village panchayat drew attention of the Panchayat Director to the fact that the panchayat had proposed to the Goa Waste Management Corporation for approval to use open space in the village for waste sorting, but in vain.
The Panchayat Director has promised to pursue the matter with the Solid Waste Management Corporation so that the approval for the waste segregation site comes at the earliest. The Panchayat Director showered praises on the Navelim Panchayat body for its work on solid waste management, saying other panchayat bodies should emulate the good work put in by Navelim on the garbage front.
Sattardekar said the six panchayats, including Navelim, Uguem, Chicalim, Old Goa and Aldona will be asked to comply with the solid waste management rules within six months, promising to provide the required infrastructure.
