the goan I network
VASCO
In the initial stages, the council had taken the Swachh Bharat campaign seriously and had even assured to award the cleanest ward. This prompted the councillors to work overtime in a bid to keep their wards clean, while the council had also sought the help of schools to keep the town clean.
It had conducted a cleanliness drive in all 25 wards of the council as part of the campaign during Gandhi Jayanti and had assured a cash reward to the cleanest ward at the end of the month.
The MMC had even assured the port town citizens that the city will always bear a clean look and would be the cleanest in the State.
But this is far from true. The MMC building has piles of leftover flowers, while the lane connecting the vegetable market and beef stalls is full of plastic.
Speaking to The Goan, a motorcycle pilot, Rajesh Kumar said the cleanliness drive was just a hogwash, adding that the council has fooled the people.
Ralph Rodrigues, a senior citizen from Vaddem who was at the post office housed in the MMC building, also sounded critical and angry, “If the MMC fails to keep its own surrounding clean, how can they expect other citizens to maintain cleanliness in the area?”
A few MMC workers present at the site told The Goan that most of them have taken restricted holidays and garbage will not be cleared till Wednesday.
When contacted, MMC Chief Officer Deepali Naik said she is feeling ashamed of the mess and has directed MMC workers to clear the garbage.
When brought to her notice that garbage around MMC building and market was left untouched, Deepali said she would summon the supervisor and direct him to clear it.
MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik said he had managed to clear the ash left behind by the burnt Narkasur effigies. “I will direct the workers to clear the garbage from the town,” Deepak assured.
