MARGAO
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday announced a slew of measures to tackle waste and sanitation issues, including making mandatory for landlords to provide toilets for the tenants, construction of four more sewage treatment plants in both North and South Goa, empowering the panchayats to rein in on illegal construction and banning plastic by May 30.
Saying that funds will not be a problem in tackling these issues head on, the Chief Minister promised coastal panchayats of an annual grant of Rs 7 lakh to handle waste management, while making it clear to the panchayat bodies that workers engaged in waste management will be paid a daily wage of Rs 500. He said the construction of toilets to make Goa Defecation Free will cost the State exchequer a whopping Rs 300 crore, but hastened to add that funds will not come in the way of tackling sanitation.
Addressing panchayat elected members at the Ravindra Bhavan here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that landlords will be taken to task legally if they fail to provide toilets and get the tenants verified.
Responding to a point raised by Verna Sarpanch Tony D’Costa that panchayats are handicapped in initiating action against illegal constructions, Parrikar said the panchayats will be empowered adequately, but had a word of caution that the powers should not be misused against opponents.
“Work on the Cacora waste management plant should start immediately. One plant will be set up at Verna to cater to Salcete and Mormugao. We have already transferred the land. An additional land belonging to neighbouring Loutolim will help in the setting up of the plant,” Parrikar added.
In his power-point presentation, Solid Waste Management Corporation, MD Sanjit Rodrigues asked the panchayats to specify what have they done on garbage management from the ward level. “There’s a need to change our mindset towards waste. Malls are coming and so is the waste from the tourism sector. There’s no bottom up approach in place. The dumps are expanding towards the fields in the villages. Waste around beach belt, towns and roadsides is the order of the day,” he said.
In her presentation on funding of waste management and sanitation schemes, Panchayat Director Sandhya Kamat said there’s a provision of funds for door-to-door collection and segregation scheme, besides funds for procurement of dustbins, waste transportation, construction of composting machines, etc. “Panchayats can levy garbage tax with a gram sabha resolution. Funds can also be spent on installation of CCTV cameras at the dark spots. While each panchayat is entitled for Rs 2 lakh funds for garbage management, coastal panchayat can expect to receive another Rs 5 lakh,” Sandhya said, adding that the survey of Salcete and Mormugao talukas to ascertain households sans toilets will soon get underway.
