It is the same story for all three panchayats located in the neighbourhood of the Dabolim Airport. The issue of bird hits to aircraft is blamed on the panchyats but when it comes to helping the panchayat resolve the matter, nobody steps forward to do so. If garbage is the only reason behind bird hits at Dabolim, then all three Panchayats- Chicalim, Sancoale and Bogmalo claim total helplessness in terms of solutions to resolve the matter. Besides, the lack of help by the government is a further deterrent to resolve the issue in their jurisdiction.
Officially, all these panchayats have identified a site for garbage but this is only on paper to comply with the High Court order. These panchayats have even imposed a ban on plastics but this remains ineffective. Today, plastic contributes to 70% of the total garbage in these villages. It is only Chicalim that has a system of garbage collection in place.
The issue of garbage gets attention only due to the bird hit incidents at the Airport. However, the panchayats have requested for a dumping site away from the flight corridor but their request has fallen on deaf ears. In the past, Dabolim MLA, Mauvin Godinho took a special initiative and finalized a site at Verna Industrial Estate which could be used by all these panchayats. However, even his plea is awaiting the nod of the government.
Recently, after the intervention of Sachin Shinde, a plot of 1000 sq mtrs was allotted by Zuari Industries Ltd to the Sancoale Panchayat to segregate garbage and construct pits for dumping. That however, won’t solve the purpose and a long term solution is most sought after.
“AAI should know that just by saying that they’re operating a defence airfield for passenger convenience will not work. They have to be concerned about the safety of passengers. I want to know when the AAI last had a fruitful discussion with the local panchayat to deal with the garbage menace surrounding the airport. Has the AAI given even one dustbin to the nearest panchayat during the last three decades? Have they taken up any development work?” questioned Chicalim Sarpanch, Rubina Rodrigues.
She went on to add, “The Navy regularly shows pictures of dumping sites around the airport but what are they doing to curtail the menace and help us? There is no interaction between these bodies. Where is the garbage from houses going?” asked Francisco Nunes, a panch member who took a lead role to eradicate the garbage menace in
Chicalim.
