the goan I network
MARGAO
On Thursday, both Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai and Chief Officer Sidhivinayak Naik promised to pull up and sensitize municipal workers for the indiscriminate burning of waste, including plastic waste across the city, posing a health hazard to the citizenry.
Friday, however, saw no change in the ground reality. The entrance to the city along Hospicio route was enveloped in a thick blanket of smoke, making driving difficult for motorists and pedestrians gasping for breath as civic body went about burning waste all along the Ana Fonte garden-Hospicio-Holy Spirit road.
The promises made by the Babita-Sidhivinayak duo seemed to have turned out to be empty as the assurance had no impact on the municipal workers. Waste burning is an offense under the solid waste management rules, but what’s interesting to note is that while the CO threatened to pull down shutters of hotels and business establishments for not handing over segregated waste, he seemed to have run out of ideas on how to stop his own army of workers from burning waste.
In fact, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2016 had imposed a complete ban on burning of waste in open places and had announced a fine of Rs 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning.
In his direction, NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar had directed that there shall be complete prohibition on open burning of waste on lands, including landfill sites.
While an environmental compensation of Rs 25,000 was ordered to be imposed on bulk waste burning, the NGT had recommended a fine of Rs 5000 in case of simple burning for each such incident, violators, including project proponent, concessionaire, any person or body responsible for such burning,
Incidentally, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) had circulated the NGT directions to the local civic bodies on open waste burning across the state, but in vain.
Inquiries have revealed that the municipal workers tend to set afire the leaves and small waste after sweeping during the morning and afternoon sessions. “What we have observed is that along with the leaves and paper, plastic items are also being burnt, posing a health hazard to the citizens,” remarked a citizen, who claimed that waste burning by the MMC workers is a routine affair. “Waste burning is harmful, more so when the waste is mixed with plastic. We hear a lot from the MMC Chairperson and the Chief Officer on waste these days. Hope they first set their house in order before sermonizing the citizens on waste segregation,” the citizen added.
Citizens have told The Goan that sweepers engaged by other departments including the PWD prefer to burn the waste instead of taking pains to dump it in the bins. “We have come across waste burning at the PWD quarters and electricity offices. Once Fatorda police had warned the electricity officials of the Pajifond office to put an end to waste burning or face action,” informed a police official.
MMC CO Sidhivinayak Naik has again assured to call a meeting of the site supervisors to guide the workers before the civic body initiates action.
