WASTE WOES: Mounds of plastic bags filled with garbage lie dumped outside the MRF facility near the Revora panchayat office, causing nuisance to nearby residents.
The Revora Village Panchayat has come under scrutiny for alleged lapses in the handling and disposal of waste at its Material Recovery Facility (MRF), with residents complaining of persistent nuisance and unhygienic conditions in the area.
The issue came to the fore after a local resident, Edmundo Pinto, filed a complaint highlighting improper garbage management and the panchayat’s failure to follow scientific waste disposal practices.
Acting on the complaint, officials from the Colvale Primary Health Centre (PHC), along with representatives of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), conducted an inspection of the site on Tuesday.
During the inspection, authorities found that waste was being stored in the open outside the MRF, rather than being processed or disposed of as per prescribed norms. Various types of garbage, including plastic bottles, glass, plastic bags and paper waste, were seen scattered in the open area, raising concerns over public health and environmental safety.
In its report, the PHC flagged the situation as a potential health hazard, particularly with the monsoon approaching.
“If left unattended, the accumulated waste could become a breeding ground for mosquitoes during the monsoon,” the report noted.
The inspection was carried out in the presence of Revora Sarpanch Vijayata Fadte and the panchayat secretary. The MRF facility, set up near the panchayat office, is located in close proximity to several residential houses, further aggravating the concerns of locals.
Residents in the vicinity have long complained about the inconvenience caused by the dumping of garbage near their homes and had urged the panchayat to relocate the facility to a more suitable site. However, with no action taken, the complainant escalated the matter to higher authorities.
Following the inspection, the Goa Waste Management Corporation initiated corrective measures and began clearing the accumulated garbage from the site on Tuesday. Officials said the remaining waste would be removed on Wednesday.
