The stench came first, then the forestfire. Now it is the garbage flowing down the ancient springs in the valley. Thedelay in the setting up of the Mapusa’s garbage treatment plant is turning the landscapeinto a giant dump. With 15-20 tons of garbage being generated everyday inMapusa, the absence of a scientific garbage treating facility is resulting in unsegregatedwaste being dumped on the Assagao plateau.
"The stench is unbearable,we are facing the problems due to the failure on the part of the authorities totake care of this problem" said Sandip Naik resident of Ganeshpuri. Officergoers are greeted with the stench in the morning. "Since it is the mainroad to Morjim, we have to experience this unbearable stench everyday"said Sandeep Shetgaonkar from Morjim.
The garbage also attracts cowsand bulls who freely roam on the hillock and road leading to Siolim from theMapusa housing board colony obstructing traffic. "It is a common sight tosee stray animals loitering around and even occupying the middle of the road”said Kalpesh Korgaonkar who uses this road daily.
Garbage is being washed down intothe valleys of Marna. "Plastic bags and bottles for example are broughtdown by the rain resulting in sores on fishes making them inedible during themonth of July-August resulting in a huge loss” said fishermen William Fernandes.
