Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday highlighted that 70 per cent of village panchayats do not undertake waste management properly and such panchayats will be monitored by the government.
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During the solid waste management (SWM) review meeting, Sawant said that the house and garbage taxes will be compulsorily collected by the village panchayats from all residents including those living on rent to tackle the growing garbage issue.
He said that it has been decided to impose fines on those private and commercial establishments, which fail to segregate waste.
The Chief Minister instructed village panchayats to maintain cleanliness and asked them to avail the provisions of the Union government and the State government under Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin, and to utilise SBM funds allocated by the 15th Finance Commission.
Sawant stated that the village panchayats must carry out the garbage segregation and issue circulars to hotels and shacks. He also said that the government will hand over the management of toilets under the Department of Tourism to the panchayats for better administration.
Sawant said, “Swachh Goem, Sundar Goem is our mission and everyone should work together to achieve it.”
The Chief Minister has asked all village panchayats to appoint contractors compulsorily and to empanel them with Goa Waste Management Corporation. The panchayats have been asked to erect sheds and have been given a schedule to streamline the process within the next two months.
Sawant said that he will also convene a meeting of all the departments concerned, contractors and stakeholders to treat all types of waste such as biodegradable, non-biodegradable, industrial waste and hazardous waste. After spending a large amount of money, the government will ensure that no garbage is littered in the State.
MLAs Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo and Kedar Naik along with officials, sarpanchas, panchayat members, panchayat secretaries of the coastal panchayats in North Goa district were present.
