MAPUSA
The Tivim Panchayat has decided to crack the whip and punish a careless fish vendor, who was caught red-handed dumping waste in its area. Sarpanch, Trupti Shinde, Deputy Sarpanch, Shivdas Kambli and three other panchas met on Thursday morning and decided to give two options to the errant vendor - either clear three dumping sites in Tivim or pay fine.
"We have evidence of a fish vendor dumping waste by the roadside in Maddel, Tivim. We have decided to ask the vendor to clear three open sites where garbage is being dumped in Tivim or impose fine on him," said Tivim Panchayat Secretary Francis Fernandes.
On Wednesday, an alert citizen caught on camera a fish vendor dumping waste near an open site in Maddel, Tivim.
The alert citizen later brought the errant act to the notice of the panchayat secretary and the panch members of Tivim. "The vendor was called on Thursday but he failed to turn up in the panchayat office. We will call him again on Friday and convey to him the decision of the panchayat," secretary said.
The Tivim sarpanch and her deputy along with other three panchas met on Thursday and decided to go ahead and reprimand the vendor for his act. "We have decided to take action against the fish vendor as he was caught dumping waste by one of our garbage committee members," said Shivdas Kambli, deputy sarpanch.
He said the punishment will act as a deterrent for others from dumping waste in the open in future. The secretary informed that he can impose fine against an offender under Panchayat Raj Act provided the panchayat passes a resolution to that effect.
"If the fish vendor agrees to the condition of clearing the waste, things can rest at that. If not the panchayat will take a resolution on imposing a fine when it formally meets for its fortnightly meeting on September 15," the secretary said.
