MARGAO
With waste burning resorted by the Margao municipal workers continuing unabated in the commercial capital, residents under the banner of Shadow Council for Margao demanded that the MMC Chairperson explain the actual reason for burning of waste, forcing the residents to breathe toxic fumes.
SCM convener Savio Coutinho descended at Aquem in the vicinity of St Joseph's school and Pratibha Housing society upon the complaints of the residents that waste was being burnt by the municipal workers.
"When we questioned the workers of the waste collection contractor the reason for setting fire to the waste, the worker very firmly informed us that the MMC supervisor Seby was responsible for setting fire to the waste," Coutinho informed.
"The worker also said that despite telling the supervisor that the surrounding residents are complaining about the waste burning, he doesn't pay heed," Coutinho said.
He added: “As far as I know, supervisor Seby is a sincere and dedicated worker of the council, and would never do such an act without directions from his superiors. As such, since the area is within the neighbourhood of the Chairperson of MMC Damodar Shirodkar, it becomes mandatory for the Chairperson to spell out the reasons for the burning of waste.”
He came down heavily on the Margao Municipal Council by charging that the main reason for the waste burning was to reduce the quantity of waste the council would have to handle at Sonsodo. “Our Margao MLA Digambar Kamat also needs to give his say on the waste burning as most often they take cover for their failures in waste management by blaming outsiders for dumping waste in Margao,” he charged.
Resident Jude Cardozo called upon the MMC to immediately put an end to the burning of waste and appealed to the Shadow Council to take up the matter to free the residents from breathing carcinogenic fumes that cause cancer.
