MAPUSA
In a bid to address health concerns and ensure hygienic waste management practices, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has issued strict directives to chicken vendors operating within its jurisdiction.
Vendors have been asked to dispose of their waste through a government-approved waste management company, following warnings from the Health Department about unhygienic conditions at the Mapusa fish and meat market.
The move comes in the wake of restrictions imposed on the MMC against dumping waste at the Assagao plateau. As an alternative, the council is working on improving its waste management system, with wet waste currently being diverted to treatment plants at Cunchelim and Saligao.
Mapusa Municipal Chairperson Priya Mishal chaired a joint meeting with approximately 20 chicken vendors and instructed them to sign an agreement with Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt Ltd, a waste disposal firm based in Kundaim.
Vendors have been given a few days to finalise the agreement, and failure to comply may result in punitive action, including the sealing of stalls.
“Chicken waste needs to be disposed of scientifically. We have directed all vendors to coordinate with the company and ensure proper waste disposal,” said Mishal, emphasising that no further violations will be tolerated.
The meeting, held at the council office, was also attended by Vice Chairperson Prakash Bhivshet, Chief Officer Chandrakant Shetkar, Councillors Sainath Raul and Ashirwad Khorjuvekar, along with municipal engineers. Officials informed vendors that the rates for waste disposal would be fixed and not subject to negotiation, despite concerns raised about high charges.
According to council estimates, the chicken vendors in Mapusa, including those in the full-fledged fish and meat market, generate nearly two tonnes of waste daily. With the closure of the Assagao garbage site, MMC was under pressure to find a sustainable solution for the disposal of chicken waste.
The council’s latest directive is part of a broader initiative to streamline waste management and maintain sanitary conditions in the town’s markets.
