the goan I network
CANACONA
Contract workers, deputed on a weekly basis to collect roadside garbage, move on either side of the highway and fill polyethylene garbage bags. These bags are then stocked in special enclosures at specific locations along the route.
“On an average, 8-10 bags filled with waste are picked up from across the highway section from Chaudi to Padi,” informed a worker collecting garbage from along NH17 road at Gulem.
“With the amount of garbage that we collect, these enclosures get full within
a month,” informed another worker.
The metal mesh enclosures are secured with a lock, but some of the overflowing enclosures attract stray cattle, dogs and other wild animals in isolated locations such as Karmlaghat and Padi.
The workers informed that a lot of trash is dumped by inter-state vehicles, especially buses and trucks.
“Besides the release of fish water, fish waste, discarded fish boxes and huge vegetable waste are a regular sight along the highway. We then have
to collect this waste and deposit them in the bags,” said the worker.
The workers claimed that much of this perishable waste is discarded at night, while plastic and paper waste is discarded by private and other public vehicles.
But while highway garbage is collected on a weekly basis, residents in various parts of Canacona taluka have complained that large amounts of garbage are also strewn along the internal roads and
left to decay.
They claimed that internal roads of Polem, Loliem, Galgibaga, Khawat, Gimnem, Cotigao, Gaondongrim, Sadolxem, Nuem (Shristhal), Guelm, Agonda and Khola are filled with garbage, which is rarely collected.
Recognizing the problem, the Canacona-based NGO ‘Goenkar’ has been making a concerted drive to collect roadside garbage, but its efforts have been largely restricted to the Canacona municipal area, though they have plans to extend this service to the neighbouring area.
