MARGAO
The South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) faces a proposed penalty of Rs 75,000 for failing to put an effective waste management system in place at its mega retail market and the wholesale fish market.
The statutory Taluka Level Committee, constituted by the South Goa district Collector in accordance with Supreme Court guidelines on solid waste management, has recommended separate penalties under the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage Control Act for lapses in solid waste management at the two markets.
The committee has recommended a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the SGPDA for waste burning and inadequate solid waste management at the wholesale fish market, while a separate penalty of Rs 25,000 has been proposed for inadequate waste management at the PDA mega retail market.
The committee, chaired by Margao Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ganesh Barve, has submitted a detailed report along with its recommendations to the district Collector for further action.
The recommendations follow an inspection conducted by a taluka-level team comprising officials from various agencies, including the Goa State Pollution Control Board, Margao Municipal Council and the Health Department.
According to the report submitted to the district Collector, the SGPDA's retail fish market and wholesale fish market have yet to register as bulk waste generators with the Margao Municipal Council through its centralised online portal.
The committee has also flagged several shortcomings in the waste management arrangements at the mega retail market, which houses fish, vegetable and fruit markets, besides meat stalls.
The report states that no arrangements have been made for the collection and processing of wet and horticultural waste generated within the market complex. It further notes that waste dumped in the open is cleared by the Margao Municipal Council once a day.
The committee's recommendations now await further action by the district Collector.
Panel’s recommendation
The Taluka Level tem has pointed out that the SGPDA is required to register as a bulk waste generator on priority.
Another recommendation made by the panel stated that the SGPDA shall designate a common waste collection point for the storage of segregated waste wet and dry. It has recommended that all the market waste from the premise shall be brought to the common point for onward disposal in consultation with MMC. The waste shall be cleared at least twice a day
Given that the market periphery has become a waste dumping ground with the PDA pointing accusing fingers at unscrupulous elements bringing outside waste in the market complex, the Panel has recommended that the waste dumped at the market periphery shall be cleared by the PDA.
in another recommendation, the panel has said the SGPDA shall display adequate signboards prohibiting waste dumping at critical locations with working CCTV cameras to discourage waste dumping.
The panel further recommended that the SGPDA/MMC shall conduct regular awareness programs for vendors to promote source segregation and proper waste management practices amongst all the occupants of the market complex.
The MMC has been given the additional task of conducting regular checking of the market for the use and sale of single use plastics.
The SGPDA may be imposed a penalty of Rs 25,000 under the provisions of the Goa Non- biodegradable garbage Control Act for inadequate management of the solid waste from its premises.
